U.S. Senate Takes First Steps to Improve Travel Restrictions

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 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.

Senators also okayed the establishment of model ports at America’s top 20 international arrival airports, including instructional videos, enhanced line management and assistance for international travelers upon arrival.

In the same breath, the Senate gave the green light for 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 and a global promotion program to help the United States regain the 60 million international travelers lost since 9/11.