Many small businesses in the United States are dependant on travel and tourism to be successful. Travel and tourism is a $740 billion dollar industry that provides employment to seven and a half million Americans. Just like everything else it has been hit hard by the recession. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that visitors to the United States in 2009 have dropped 9% from 2008. Crowds, a shaky structure, and airport delays are discouraging travel to the United States.
In order to draw more international tourists to America we need to make it more inviting to outsiders to visit and do business. One positive course of action would be to pass the Travel Promotion act. Passing this act would promote interaction between the private and public sectors that would increase travel to the United States. Most countries have already put this coordination effort into effect. There are estimates that say a successful program could attract $1.6 million new international visitors per year. Also, the Travel Promotion Act would help to bring about changes in U.S. travel policies to relieve a lot of the hassles that are associated with traveling to the United States, such as invasive security measures that give foreigners a feeling that they are not welcome. If more effort was put in to improving America’s travel infrastructure, it would create jobs as well as bring in more international tourists to our country. In order to accomplish this end, America needs to do a better job of making outsiders feel welcome and safe.