The International Olympic Committee's elimination of Chicago as a possible host of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games during the first round of balloting demonstrates the need to change impressions of what the experience of travel to the U.S. is like for international visitors, the head of the U.S. Travel Association
(USTA) said.
Roger Dow, U.S. Travel's president and CEO, applauded President Obama's personal appeal on behalf of Chicago and for sending a welcoming message to international travelers around the world, but added, "It's clear the United States still has a lot of work to do to restore its place as a premier travel destination."
Dow will discuss the unwelcoming message the U.S. sends to international travelers as well as the overall state of the U.S. travel industry on Wednesday, October 14, in New Orleans at the TEAMS Conference & Expo.
Presented by SportsTravel magazine, TEAMS is the world's largest gathering of event organizers and travel planners from the sports-event industry.
"When IOC members are commenting to our president that foreign visitors find traveling to the United States a 'pretty harrowing experience,' we need to take seriously the challenge of reforming our entry process to ensure there is a welcome mat to our friends around the world, even as we ensure a secure system," Dow said.
"At the same time, the Travel Promotion Act is an important step in making sure international travelers know we want them to visit our country."
The Travel Promotion Act, which recently was passed in the U.S. Senate and is awaiting action in the House of Representatives, would create the first-ever U.S. promotion and communications program aimed at international travelers.
Virtually all other industrialized nations spend tens of millions of dollars annually on advertising and promotion to attract foreign visitors. Studies show that such a campaign could attract millions of additional overseas visitors per year, resulting in billions of dollars in new visitor spending.
"Chicago has everything to offer and would have been an ideal venue for the Olympics," Dow said.
"Officials from the city and the state of Illinois did a fantastic job of showcasing everything Chicago has to offer, and it's disappointing to have this $7 billion loss to its economy at a time it is sorely needed."
For more information, visit TEAMS Conference & Expo
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