Expanding the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) — which enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa — would improve both the nation's economy and its security, according to U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow, who yesterday submitted testimony to Congress arguing in favor of a VWP expansion to include potentially qualifying nations such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Poland and Taiwan.
"Since its creation in 1986, the VWP has been an invaluable instrument of U.S. national security and public diplomacy and is also critical to our nation's economic health," Dow said in his testimony, submitted to the House Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement. "It is difficult to exaggerate the benefits to the United States of reciprocal 90-day, visa-free travel with the 36 countries that currently qualify for visa waiver status."
In 2010, VWP countries were the largest source of inbound overseas travels to the United States, according to the U.S. Travel Association, sending more than 17 million visitors — 65 percent of all visitors from overseas. While here, VWP visitors spent nearly $61 billion, supporting 433,000 American jobs along with $12 billion in payroll and generating $9 billion in tax revenues.
"The opportunities that would result from expanding the program to key emerging economies are staggering," Dow said. "As the Subcommittee reviews the program, we urge you to reflect on these benefits to our foreign policy, homeland security and economy that comprised the original rationale for creating the Visa Waiver Program."
Dow's testimony was submitted in support of two pieces of VWP legislation currently before Congress: H.R. 959, introduced earlier this congressional session by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), and H.R. 3341, sponsored by Reps. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and David Dreier (R-Calif.).