The United States is losing international travelers and tourist dollars because of strict practices put in place after the terrorist attacks of 2001, the head of the Travel Industry Association said Monday.
Roger Dow told the Greater Houston Partnership that tougher security measures are prompting travelers to choose to travel to other countries.
The U.S. has lost global market share for international travel in recent years, Dow said.
Although international travel to the U.S. has returned to 2000’s level, such travel worldwide has multiplied, with other nations reaping the benefits, he said.
“Your competitors are spending big-time,” the travel association’s chief executive said, alluding to how much money some countries put into promoting themselves as travel destinations. “What are we spending? Zero.”
That could change. The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill late last month that would create a national travel promotion corporation and a travel promotion fund. It also calls for developing programs to improve the nation’s visa and entry processes for international visitors.
Business travel into the U.S. — which also is a major focus in Houston — is down 10 percent in recent years, according to Dow. But that’s not a global trend, he noted, because business travel to Europe during the same period is up by 8 percent.
The travel association is pushing a visa system in the U.S. that would shorten the processing period to 30 days. Also, the association wants to upgrade airports here.
The association bills itself as “a nonprofit national association that represents and speaks for the common interests and concerns of all components of the U.S. travel industry.”
Dow’s assessment Monday was blunt — but needed to be to get the message across, said Rick Vacar, head of the Houston Airport System.
“Security shouldn’t be the only consideration,” Vacar said.
Jeff Moseley, president and chief executive of the Greater Houston Partnership, noted that international business is important to Houston because so much is conducted here.
Moseley also said partnership members would accept the challenge to help make improvements.