TIA Lauds Senator’s Pledge to Help America’s Image Abroad

Travel industry leaders applauded Sen. Byron Dorgan’s pledge to develop legislation aimed at implementing a three-step plan for increasing travel to the U.S. through reforms in visa policies, enhancements at arrival points and efforts to change perceptions of the U.S. abroad.

Senator Dorgan, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade and Tourism, presided over full committee hearing detailing this plan –the “Blueprint to Discover America,” which was created by a coalition of industry leaders called the Discover America Partnership.

Full Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK), two long-time stalwarts of the travel and tourism industry, also echoed Senator Dorgan’s support.

Also unveiled was a joint TIA and TBR report which provides an evaluation of progress made on initiatives announced one year ago by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.

In the report, TBR and TIA offered “marginal progress” ratings on five of the eleven initiatives evaluated, including model ports of entry, passport cards and digital videoconferencing for visa interviews.

They noted most progress has been made in the areas of student visas and e-Passports, but seek further progress in other areas.