The U.S. Travel Association is uncomfortable with the recent slump in inbound travel to the U.S. and is open to any and all solutions that reverse the trend.
In a statement issued Wednesday, U.S. Travel President and CEO, Roger Dow expressed concern over the latest inbound tourism data from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO), which revealed a 3.9 percent overall decline in international inbound travel to the U.S. through June 2017.
Earlier this year, NTTO data showed that the number of international visitors to the U.S. declined for the first time in seven years (during 2016). International spending in the U.S. also dropped 2.1 percent during 2016 compared to the previous year.
"The latest government travel data is deeply concerning not just to our industry, but to anyone who cares about the economic well-being of the United States. Travel is our country's No. 2 export and supports more than 15 million American jobs," said Dow.
The organization remains committed to working hand in hand with government officials to ensure foreign travelers receive a welcoming message.
"These numbers are an undeniable wake-up call, and correcting this troubling trend needs to become a national priority," added Dow. "The travel industry will turn over every stone looking for all available policy options to better promote the U.S. as an international destination, and we stand ready to partner with the federal government to grow travel and American jobs and exports along with it."
In July, U.S. Travel and 19 other hospitality and retail trade groups voiced concern over President Donald Trump's executive order that removed language from a previous executive order ensuring timely nonimmigrant visa application processing.
The administration's controversial travel ban has also presented the industry with a major obstacle for the majority of 2017. What's more, Trump's budget proposal called for the elimination of Brand USA, which has been hard at work driving U.S. tourism.
As Dow alluded to, the consequences of failing to address the latest downward trend could prove significant. After all, travel and tourism account for approximately 2.7 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and one out of every nine American jobs, based on U.S. Travel research.
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