WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion Subcommittee hearing today titled Tourism in America: Removing Barriers and Promoting Growth.

Witness List:

Panel I

The Honorable Nicole Lamb-Hale, Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, Department of Commerce

Mr. David T. Donahue, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Visa Services, Department of State

Mr. John Wagner, Executive Director for Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

Panel II

Mr. Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman, Corporation for Travel Promotion

Ms. Nancy Johnson, Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer, Carlson Hotels, Americas

Mr. John Sprouls, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Orlando Resort; Executive Vice President, Universal Parks and Resorts

Mr. Roger Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association

Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing:

“Travel and tourism represent a significant part of America’s economy, supporting millions of jobs, and bringing in billions of dollars of revenue. Every additional dollar spent by overseas visitors supports new jobs and economic growth. I know that my own home state of West Virginia has so much to offer: from snowy mountaintops to quick, whitewater rapids. And it is my hope that the U.S. travel and tourism industry will creatively and successfully find ways to boost travel to the many wonderful corners of my state and many others.”

Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV

“Tourism is about jobs and creating new economic opportunities for businesses. By cutting red tape and bolstering the tourism industry we can help strengthen our local communities, attract new visitors from abroad, and stimulate economic growth with no cost to taxpayers.”

Senator Amy Klobuchar, Chairwoman, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion

“The potential of the Travel Promotion Act to create new opportunities for U.S. travel and tourism exports plays a critical role in supporting the President’s National Export Initiative and stimulating the U.S. economy. This is an exciting time for the United States to engage in the global marketplace and proactively compete for international visitors. After all, more international visitors to the United States means more people eating in our restaurants, staying in our hotels, shopping in our malls, visiting our attractions and learning about our values and culture.”

The Honorable Nicole Lamb-Hale, Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, Department of Commerce

“The good news is that international arrivals to the United States continue to climb. For the Bureau of Consular Affairs, our challenge has been to meet the increasing worldwide visa demand from these potential visitors without compromising the security of our nation’s borders. We are meeting that challenge, even as we continue to deal with new and growing demand for international travel. This is important not only to our nation’s economy, but maintains America’s reputation for openness, fostering exchange, and seeking mutual understanding.”

Mr. David T. Donahue, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Visa Services, Department of State

“To counter the threat of terrorism and secure our borders, Customs and Border Protection relies on a balanced mix of professional law enforcement personnel, advanced technologies and modernized facilities and infrastructure both at and between the ports of entry. Using Advanced Passenger Information and our National Targeting Centers, CBP Officers utilize advanced targeting, screening and inspection technologies to quickly identify persons or cargo that warrant additional scrutiny and address document deficiencies without unduly impeding the traveling public or commerce.”

Mr. John Wagner, Executive Director for Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

“The U.S. has been losing share in the long-haul international travel market for many years as travel globally has boomed. Our failure to simply keep pace with the growth of the rest of the world has cost the U.S. an estimated 68 million ‘lost’ arrivals, $509 billion in total spending, $32 billion in direct tax receipts and 441,000 travel-related jobs that could have been created or sustained in the years over the past decade. I have a strong personal belief that travel promotion will make America more competitive in the global marketplace and that the work of the Corporation for Travel Promotion will boost our country’s economy. By helping the U.S. compete in the world travel market we will create jobs and drive economic growth here at home.”

Mr. Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman, Corporation for Travel Promotion

“Tourism has been referred to as the ‘invisible export’ because its benefits are often overlooked even though it generates more export revenue than automobiles and computers. Increasing international tourism is one of the easiest ways to help achieve President Obama’s goal of doubling exports over the next five years. To increase tourism, we do not need to build a new factory. We just need to find ways to get more legitimate travelers into our country. Equally important - we need to make sure they have a positive experience when they visit the United States.”

Ms. Nancy Johnson, Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer, Carlson Hotels, Americas

“Our industry absolutely supports having a secure border. We absolutely agree that security has to come first and foremost in the eyes of the Federal government. But we don’t believe that position must be at odds with creating an efficient, user-friendly process for international travelers who want to visit the United States. A large percentage of our growth – and hope for the future – comes from the international market. If we—and the entire industry—are to continue to grow, we will need to work with you to remove significant regulatory barriers that exist in some of our top international travel markets.”

Mr. John Sprouls, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Orlando Resort; Executive Vice President, Universal Parks and Resorts

“Travel provides good, domestic jobs that cannot be outsourced. Increasing travel to the United States is the most effective form of economic stimulus. Unlike other goods and services, the barriers to travel are primarily self-imposed. The principle barriers to increased travel to the United States are the inefficiencies, uncertainties and delays that characterize our visa and entry process and that discourage foreign tourists and business travelers from visiting the United States. If this country is serious about achieving the national goal of doubling exports within five years, Congress and the Administration have to show America welcomes legitimate international visitors by reducing barriers to their entry.”

Mr. Roger Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association

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