The U.S. Travel Association hosted a “Travel Works for America” Power Hour with Congressman Scott Peters and more than 20 San Diego-area travel and business leaders at the San Diego County Regional Airports Authority on Tuesday, August 27, to demonstrate the tangible impact travel has on communities and businesses.
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“In communities like San Diego, travel is a key driver of the economy and workforce.” Tori Emerson Barnes, vice president of public affairs and policy, U.S. Travel“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join Congressman Peters in discussing ways Congress can further support increased travel to his district and across the United States, and I thank the leadership of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau for helping bring us together.”
“Whether it’s families visiting the San Diego Zoo, tourists strolling the Gaslamp Quarter or beachgoers soaking up the sun at La Jolla Shores, tourism fuels our economy and supports our communities,” said the company. Senator Peters.
“Today’s meeting between Congressman Scott Peters and the U.S. Travel Administration demonstrates the importance of collaboration between our nation’s tourism industry and government officials,” he said. Julie Coker, President and CEO, San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau“Tourism is a cornerstone of our local economy, contributing $22 billion and creating one in eight jobs. These discussions are critical as we address challenges and opportunities at both the federal and local levels. By strengthening our relationship with Congressman Peters and other policymakers, we can ensure San Diego’s tourism industry continues to thrive and benefit the entire region.”
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The Power Hour agenda included important topics such as the need to reduce wait times for U.S. visitor visas (especially for first-time applicants, which average more than 280 days in major markets where a visa is required) and the need to reduce wait times for travelers at U.S. Customs at gateway airports.
Participants highlighted the need for a permanent expansion of the H-2B worker visa program with a focus on supporting small and seasonal businesses that rely on temporary workers, and the benefits to travelers of innovative facial recognition technology at TSA airport checkpoints. The group also discussed the need to ensure adequate funding for the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the opportunity for Congress to modernize travel through another major infrastructure bill, and the importance of Brand USA, the official U.S. tourism marketing organization.
