As part of his effort to boost the U.S. economy, President Barack Obama has ordered federal agencies to make it easier for tourists from countries with growing national incomes to visit American cities and travel spots.
Under Obama’s plan, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have been mandated to boost non-immigrant visa approvals in China and Brazil by 40% this year. Both countries tout two of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Obama wants to improve what has been a decline in the U.S. market share of global travel. About 10 years ago, the U.S. share was 17%; now it’s down to 12.4%.
As of 2010, tourism represented 2.7% of U.S. gross domestic product and 7.5 million jobs, with international visitors supporting 1.2 million of these jobs, according to the White House. In 2010, Brazilian tourists spent $6 billion in the U.S., Chinese $5 billion and Indians $4 billion.
-Noel Brinkerhoff, All Gov
