The U.S. Travel Association says the federal government has made meaningful progress in modernizing America's travel system, but warns that certain policy proposals involving visa fees, travel bans and expanded social media screening requirements could undermine recent gains.
The push comes as international travel to the U.S. declined in 2025 for the first time since the pandemic, contributing to a $120 billion reversal in travel spending over the last decade. The U.S. now receives less money from international visitors than Americans spend abroad.
With the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics approaching, an efficient, predictable and competitive travel system will be crucial to capturing the estimated $100 billion economic impact.
"We've made real progress together over the past year," said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association. "Now we need policy discipline to match our infrastructure investments. The question is simple: do we want to welcome the world or make it harder for them to come?"
Steps have been taken to prepare for this surge in tourism, such as:
- Coordinated federal leadership structures to prepare for upcoming global events and manage increased travel demand.
- More than $1.6 billion in federal funding for security and operational preparedness tied to the World Cup and Olympics.
- A $12.5 billion down payment to modernize the National Airspace System, supporting air traffic control technology, infrastructure and workforce development.
- Deployment of more than 400 additional consular officers to high-demand posts abroad.
- Funding for 5,000 additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to reduce customs wait times.
- Expansion of biometric tools for international entry/exit and airport screening to improve security and enhance the travel experience.
Industry leaders have expressed concern about cost increases and new entry requirements that could slow progress just as these events are creating unprecedented demand.
Travel economists estimate that the proposed $250 visa fee could reduce international travel spending by $2.9 billion and put 15,000 American jobs at risk.
"Other destinations are actively competing for international travelers—streamlining entry, reducing costs and marketing aggressively," said Freeman. "The U.S. has a choice: make it easier or make it costlier. You can't modernize entry with one hand and add barriers with the other. We need alignment."
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