MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
US tourism industry calls for reforming the “antiquated visa process”
The U.S. Travel Association unveiled a plan to create 1.3 million U.S. jobs and add 859 billion dollars to the U.S. economy by 2020 by reforming an antiquated visa process that often drives international travelers to other countries. The heart of U.S. Travel's plan is to increase staffing, reduce visa interview wait times and expand the Visa Waiver Program. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesI'm not surprised the USA is questioning of their visa /waver/customs policies and practices.
May 14th, 2011 - 01:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As I travel the world, I do everything I can to avoid going to, or through, the USA.
And I feel sure there are millions like me who, having experienced the American Homeland Security behaviours, the paranoia and the hurdles/barriers placed in front of visitors, prefer to go *anywhere* in preference to the USA.
American Homeland Security behaviours
May 14th, 2011 - 03:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The clowns they hire, are a bunch of uneducated buffoons (nazis) and perverts. There are many complaints of groping their private parts.
Be that as it may, is there anything to the US aside from night life attractions that exist in every big city in world?
May 16th, 2011 - 01:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0Forgetit, last year I blogged on the BBC on the attractions/tourism topic :
May 16th, 2011 - 10:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0One thing influences the English perception of tourists in London - the inability to distinguish them readily from the (ethnic) maelstrom that has become the country's capital. This may be what the tourists come to see, however. An American tourist is very unlikely to have seen a modern day Lithuanian or a Latvian, but here in London you can rub shoulders with all nationalities.
A USA citizen can meet Iraquis and Iranian, and have a cultured conversation - totally overturning the perception that they are 'the spawn of the devil' (as I have read in American blog-postings).
But London is a dirty city. It is the biggest jewel in the UK crown, and it looks worse than a mess of pebbles. Wars and fire have destroyed much of the more ancient architecture, and the 1960s infill architecture is no great advert; in London you have to look between the crap to hunt out the jewels of history.
London (and elsewhere in the UK) can learn a HUGE amount about tourism provision by looking at the USA.
If any country has got it right it is the USA.
Heritage is really important to the Americans and, apart from the Native American heritage which frequently has less well developed tourism provision, colonial and post-colonial heritage is extremely well presented, clean, friendly and 'accessible' - in short, everything a tourist might wish for.
Yes, there is New York - with the same tourism problems as London; and there is the (naff) Disney and Vegas experiences that people travel to from all over the world;
but to see the trails, view-points, educational, historical centres, hands-on exhibits, multicultural displays, etc associated with Space Centers, Dinosaur museums, National Parks, etc, etc, is a pleasure indeed.
If you want proper tourism provision - LOOK AT THE USA !!
If you want proper tourism provision - LOOK AT THE USA !!
May 16th, 2011 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If you want proper tourism PROPAGANDA (yes Americans are very good)..you should look at the USA.
“but to see the trails, view-points, educational, historical centres, hands-on exhibits, multicultural displays, etc associated with Space Centers, Dinosaur museums, National Parks, etc, etc, is a pleasure indeed.”
You love to exaggerate. That you can find everywhere, but so far only the Europeans and spin masters in the US know how to sell it better. Many South American nations need to learn how to promote their nation better...what is possible.
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