The Washington, D.C.-based Travel Industry Association (TIA) has released a statement in support of the United States'
recently announced expansion of its Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which became official yesterday. Expanding the VWP, which allows citizens from participating countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa, will benefit the ailing U.S. economy, according to TIA officials, by bringing an estimated 1 million new overseas visitors to the United States every year.
"Adding friends and allies to the Visa Waiver Program strengthens U.S. security, boosts America's vital public diplomacy efforts and stimulates U.S. economic growth," TIA President and CEO Roger Dow said. "TIA worked closely with the U.S. government to enact reforms that allow for VWP expansion with enhanced security measures, and we are pleased to see them take effect."
President George W. Bush announced the VWP expansion last month. Under its parameters, travelers from seven new countries—the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta and South Korea—can visit the United States without a tourist visa, starting today.
Travelers from 27 other countries—including Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom, among others—already participate in the VWP and residents from six more—Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania—are currently participating in the "visa waiver road map" process, according to President Bush.
In order to maintain high security standards, travelers visiting the United States must first register through the nation's new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which is an automated system that's used to determine the eligibility and security risk of individuals wishing to travel to the United States. Travelers from all VWP countries must participate in ESTA beginning Jan. 12, 2009.
In addition to ESTA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering other increased security measures for VWP travelers. Among them: a biometric system for confirming the exit of foreign visitors departing the United States.
According to TIA, the United States welcomed 2 million fewer overseas visitors in 2007 than it did in 2000—due in part to cumbersome security measures and unfriendly international travel policies in the wake of Sept. 11. The country must therefore find a way to balance security with public diplomacy, experts insist.
"While today's expansion will benefit the economy, we still have a long way to go to regain the millions of travelers we have lost since 9/11," Dow said. "As the dollar gains strength and we experience a global financial downturn, the United States needs a clear strategy for welcoming more visitors in a highly competitive environment."