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Background:

In 2010, the United States welcomed essentially the same number of overseas visitors than it did in 2000.  At the same time, there were tens of millions of new foreign travelers worldwide.  Declining travel to the U.S. carries steep costs to our economy, its competitiveness, and America's diplomacy. 

To help increase tourism to the U.S., the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows visitors from 36 nations to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without the expense and wait of obtaining a visa.  We need to continue to grow the VWP to make the U.S. more competitive in the global travel market.

In Brazil, citizens can travel visa-free to all of South America and the E.U. but cannot do so to the U.S.  Those wishing to travel to America often have to wait up to 100 days for a visa interview and many times report that it is a significant hassle to travel to the U.S.  With a growing middle class, Brazilians are traveling abroad in record numbers, something the U.S. should try to take advantage of.

Bottom Line:

Travelers from countries already in the VWP spent more than $61 Billion in 2010 creating 433,000 jobs here in the U.S.  On average, overseas travelers spend $4,000 per person/per visit to our country.  For this reason it is essential to preserve and expand the VWP.

Links:

TAKE ACTION to Improve the Visa Waiver Program
Who's In The Visa Waiver Program?
U.S. Travel Visa Waiver Program Fact Sheet for Brazil
See What Others Are Saying
March 3, 2011 U.S. Travel Letter To President Obama
April 1, 2011 Travel Industry Letter To Presdient Obama