The U.S. Senate adopted three provisions from the Blueprint to Discover America, a document introduced by the Travel Industry Association, in partnership with the Travel Business Roundtable and…
The U.S. Senate adopted three provisions from the Blueprint to Discover America, a document introduced by the Travel Industry Association, in partnership with the Travel Business Roundtable and Discover America Partnership. As a member of the Travel Industry Association and the Travel Business Roundtable, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE, formerly IAEM) is a strong supporter of this latest initiative.
The Senate approved the following three provisions put forth in the Blueprint to Discover America:
- Expanding the Visa Waiver Program to a greater number of allied countries upon the implementation of new security procedures, including a reliable exit tracking system at U.S. airports.
- Establishing model ports at America`s top 20 international arrival airports, including instructional videos, enhanced line management and assistance for international travelers upon arrival.
- Authorizing the hiring of at least 200 new Customs and Border Protection officers to alleviate staff shortages at the top 20 arrival airports.
Many other elements of the Blueprint to Discover America remain outstanding, including the development of an International Registered Traveler program; the introduction of customer service training/evaluation standards at the nation`s airports; State Department reporting on reducing visa wait times; exploration of mobile consulate operations and remote videoconferencing to expedite visa issuance; and a global promotion program to help the United States regain the 60 million international travelers lost since 9/11.
The International Registered Traveler program was first recommended to the U.S. Congress two years ago when IAEE testified twice recommending the establishment of what it called a Fast Track Program, designed to expedite the issuance of U.S. visas to business travelers who have established a record of responsible travel to and from the United States, and who do not appear on any security watch lists.
We will continue to work with the Travel Industry Association, Travel Business Roundtable and others to secure the progress needed to re-open the doors to the United States for millions of international business travelers, many of whom are exhibitors and visitors, commented IAEE President Steven Hacker.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
