Travel and Tourism

America is leaving travel-related jobs and revenues on the table because we’re not laying out the welcome mat for business travelers and tourists. We need to ensure that when tourists are ready to travel and business people are ready to make deals, they come to the greatest travel destination of them all—the United States of America.

Expanding travel and tourism can and should be a bipartisan priority, and it’s one the U.S. Chamber strongly supports.

Travel and tourism already accounts for $888 billion in revenues and 7.9 million American jobs. It could do so much more for our economy if we did a better job of laying out the welcome mat for international travelers. In fact, if we restored our share of the travel market to its 2000 level we could create more than 450,000 jobs by 2020.

We need to broaden visa waiver programs, limit wait times at customs, and implement trusted traveler programs to reduce the hassles without jeopardizing safety. We need to let the world know we want their business, and that means we need to make travel promotion a priority.

The Chamber is:

  • Encouraging Congress and the administration to expand the Visa Waiver Program and address delays, backlogs, and disruptions in our immigration and border management systems that impede the movement of legitimate businesses and tourists traveling across U.S. borders.
  • Supporting “trusted traveler” programs to reduce airport screening delays and encourage and expedite travel for those who pass a rigorous background check.
  • Ensuring the travel and tourism industry, largely populated by small businesses, is not subject to undue taxes and regulations.
  • Urging lawmakers to adequately fund infrastructure to make travel to and within the United States more efficient, quicker, and more hassle-free.

Recent Activity

Above the FoldApr 14, 2021 - 2:30pm
U.S.-Egypt Business relations

From Pharaohs and Pyramids to Post-Pandemic Priorities in Egypt: 4 Ideas for the Biden Administration

Four recommendations for the Biden Administration to strengthen U.S.-Egypt business relations.

Letters to CongressJul 16, 2020 - 9:45am

U.S. Chamber Letter on the Phase 4 Coronavirus Relief Legislation

This Hill letter was sent to the President of the United States Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Letters to CongressJul 14, 2020 - 12:30pm

U.S. Chamber Letter on FY21 Homeland Security Appropriations

This Hill letter was sent to the House Committee on Appropriations, on FY21 Homeland Security Appropriations.

Letters to CongressMay 14, 2020 - 10:15am

U.S. Chamber Letter on the Registered Traveler Modernization Act

This Hill letter was sent to Senators Krysten Sinema and Dan Sullivan, thanking them for introducing the Registered Traveler Modernization Act.

Above the FoldMar 16, 2020 - 9:15am
QT: Coronavirus

Quick Take: Coronavirus' Economic Impact

What you need to know about the economic impact of COVID-19 in the U.S.

Above the FoldMar 09, 2020 - 9:00am
Stan Deal (right), President and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Executive Vice President, the Boeing Company, chatted with U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue at the 2020 Aviation Summit.

Aviation Soars to New Heights

Air travel is such a common part of daily life that it can seem mundane. But the truth is that aviation is a vibrant, innovative industry set to reach even greater heights.

EventMar 05, 2020 - 8:00am to 6:00pm
Teaser pink and yellow image for the 2020 Aviation Summit

Aviation Summit 2020

Each year, the U.S. Chamber hosts 1,000 executive leaders from across the aviation and aerospace industries, including corporate CEOs, policymakers, and influencers from inside and outside of Washington, providing unparalleled opportunities for networking and business development.

Above the FoldFeb 03, 2020 - 12:45pm
Aviation Summit 2020 ATF

Staying Ahead of Aviation Industry Trends

Carol Hallett, the leading executive of the U.S. Chamber's Aviation Summit, breaks down aviation trends and industry insights.

Press ReleaseJan 09, 2020 - 10:00am

Donohue: 'Engaging with the world is our best strategy for strong national security and lasting prosperity'

Today U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas J. Donohue cautioned that the United States must continue to engage on the world stage or risk being left behind in his annual State of American Business Address.