by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:45 AM ET, Wed June 19, 2024
Recent data showed that implementing innovations in travel
security and facilitation across the United States should help America compete
for global travelers and reverse a lagging recovery rate.
According to the U.S. Travel Association and the Commission
on Seamless and Secure Travel, America is building partnerships with the United
Kingdom and other allied nations to advance major innovations in travel
security and facilitation, including learning from a recent field visit to
Heathrow Airport.
Key initiatives requiring federal government action include
lifting limitation levels on liquids and related items in carry-on bags, modernizing
preclearance at designated foreign airports, leveraging biometrics to
strengthen security, and reforming the U.S.
visitor visa process.
“It’s time for U.S. officials to make a leap forward and put
available tools in place at airports and borders to securely facilitate
millions of new inbound visitors,” U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman
said. “With the World Cup, the Summer Olympics and other milestones just ahead
of us, a decade of major events is on the horizon, and we must be prepared to
efficiently and securely process millions of travelers to fully realize the
benefits of serving as a host country.”
In addition, U.S. Travel is calling on the government to
scale the One-Stop Security initiative, which would allow passengers and their
bags traveling from select international airports to bypass duplicative
screening upon arrival in the U.S. and continue to connecting flights.
Earlier this year, a Euromonitor International survey found
the U.S. ranked 17 out of 18 major countries in terms of global travel
competitiveness.
The commission was formed in response to this survey to
understand how the country can more effectively compete for global travelers. A
report is expected to be delivered to lawmakers and officials in Washington
this fall.
“With the Commission’s critical work nearing the mid-way
point, security-based solutions that will give the U.S. a roadmap to
best-in-class traveler security practices and grow our share of inbound travel
is coming into clear focus,” Freeman continued.
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