Discover America Partnership

• December 14, 2007
  Newsday
  Editorial: Advertise U.S. to world tourists
  
  "Now, contrast New York's efforts to what the nation is doing: zero. The result is sad, a 17 percent decline in international tourism since 2001. That's why Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) is pushing the Travel Promotion Act of 2007. So is McGowan. So is the Travel Industry Association of America. So are the major chain hotels.
  
  "The bill would create The Corporation for Travel Promotion, a nonprofit organization, to market the United States abroad. It will help in two ways. First, it will bring in dollars. International tourists stay longer and spend more than domestic tourists. Second, once they come and see the actual United States, as opposed to our nation's sadly declining overseas image, international tourists tend to like us more."
  
  Read more:
  http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vptop145499760dec14,0,27539.story
  
  
• December 1, 2007
  The Los Angeles Times
  Tourists, Welcome Back to America: Investing in Ways to Attract More Visitors to the U.S. is a Smart Idea Financially and Diplomatically
  
  "... Considering that the U.S. spends hundreds of millions of dollars on public diplomacy with dubious results and nearly nothing on promoting tourism, it might do well to invest a little money in wooing travelers. Two bills in Congress, S 1661 and HR 3232, aim to do just that, without asking taxpayers to reach for their wallets. ...
  
  "Congress should pass the legislation. These small investments and levies in travel promotion could reap big benefits for the United States in money and image. At a time when much of the world views America with suspicion and irritation, tourism gives us an opportunity to display a nation better than its government, a more humble and welcoming land. That is fundamentally in America's interests and well worth this small price."
  
  Read more:
  http://www.latimes.com/
  
  
• November 11, 2007
  The Sacramento  Bee
  Restore U.S. Image as a Destination for Visitors: Changes by  Government and Partnership with Private Sector can Bring Visitors  Back
  
  "The United States' image abroad is in the pits. And it shows.  While world travel continues to increase, fewer overseas travelers are coming  to this country. ... This country needs to reclaim its status as a global  magnet for visitors, even in the post-9/11 climate – and Congress can help by  passing the Travel Promotion Act of 2007 by the end of this year.”  
  
  Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/482092.html  
  
  
  
• September 3, 2007
  The Honolulu Advertiser
  Visa Waiver Expansion a Hopeful Sign for Isles
  
  “Finally, the federal government is taking steps toward developing a far more reasonable policy on issuing tourist visas to American visitors. ... For years, government leaders have lobbied for an expansion of the visa waiver program, making it easier for visitors from South Korea and other countries to come, with all the spending and job creation that would bring.  Last month, hopes were raised with President Bush signing a carrot-and-stick anti-terrorism bill. The legislation includes a visa-waiver section, enabling more countries entry into the U.S. without a visa.”
  
  Read more: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070903/OPINION01/709030304/1104.



• August 17, 2007
  Seattle Post Intelligencer
  Frightening to Think of U.S. Turning Inward
  
  "Since 9/11, overseas travel to the United States has plummeted nearly 20 percent. Research reveals that business, leisure and other types of travel are increasingly choosing non-U.S. destinations," says the Discover America Partnership, a travel industry coalition. "Bottom line: America's broken travel system -- visa policy, the entry experience and perceptions of an unwelcoming environment -- is harming the country's economic security, public diplomacy and national security."
  
  It's not just travel. It's not just trade. It's America's shifting perception about its place in the world. We seem to have forgotten our history: We are not very good at isolation. We thrive when we look out the window and think about what can be.”
  
  
  Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/.



• July 30, 2007
  The Wall Street Journal
  Coming to America
  
  “Congress is doing something right at the border for a change, making it easier for allies from Estonia to South Korea to visit America. The move is an economic boon and a foreign-policy success story.
  
  Homeland-security legislation passed last week on Capitol Hill expands eligibility for America's visa-waiver program. The program allows nationals of designated countries to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days without applying for a visa before leaving home. Twenty-seven countries currently participate, including most of Western Europe, Australia and Japan. Now citizens of 12 more will be able to apply immediately, and it will be easier for other countries to join in the future.”
  
  Read more: http://online.wsj.com/public/us.



• July 9, 2007
  The Miami Herald
  Visa Policies Driving Foreign Visitors Away
  
  “The legacy of 9/11 continues to discourage overseas visitors to the United States, costing tourism magnets like Florida hefty losses. A recent Florida TaxWatch report estimates that Florida's economy has lost more than $16 billion from foreign visitors absent since 2001. The main culprits are immigration and visa policies that discourage international tourists and businesses from visiting or investing. ... Congress is spending billions of dollars for a border fence and thousands more Border Patrol agents. Security is important, but it must be balanced with investment in protecting the U.S. tourist economy. ... The point .. should be to fix the problems that discourage foreign visitors before trying to sell a newer, improved U.S. travel experience.”
  
  Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com.



• July 6, 2007
  The Republican (MA)
  U.S. Must Welcome Tourists from Abroad
  
  “The numbers paint a bleak picture: In 2000, there were 26 million visits to the United States from people in countries with which we do not share a border. Six years later, there were just 21.7 million visits from people outside of Canada and Mexico. Tourists from across the globe have the perception that getting into the United States can present an undue burden, even when one has the proper documentation, a valid passport and visa. That perception does not come out of nowhere. It is not always unfounded. ... Since 9/11, our nation has wisely focused on terrorism. That should not change, but we must not be barring the tourists as we try to ban the terrorists. Attracting legitimate visitors would boost our economy as well as our image.”
  
  Read more: http://www.masslive.com/republican.



• June 20, 2007
  The Washington Post
  Visa Bias: A Relic of the Cold War Galls America's Stalwart Allies
  
  “As President Bush is reminded practically every time he travels abroad, America's once-sizable reserves of international affection and respect have been badly depleted by his administration's knack for highhandedness. A major exception has been Eastern Europe, where even Mr. Bush's maladroit diplomacy has not undone the warmth and admiration for the United States felt by millions of former Warsaw Pact residents to whom America was a beacon of freedom during the Cold War. But now America's reputation is being bruised even in those countries, especially among younger people. The culprit: Washington's arbitrary and blatantly discriminatory visa policies for tourists, businesspeople and other travelers.”
  
  Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com.



• May 11, 2007
  The Columbus Dispatch
  The Cost of Security; Anti-terrorism Efforts have Taken Toll on U.S. Tourism Industry
  
  “Americans can understand and appreciate why travel security is so much more stringent than it was six years ago. But this post-9/11 caution has come with a cost. …
  
  “In a study conducted this past fall by the Discover America Partnership, a travel-industry lobbying group, the U.S. was rated by more than 2,000 foreign travelers as the most unfriendly, inaccessible destination in the world, with arduous procedures for entry and cheerless, arbitrary and rude officials. A majority said they were scared of making a small mistake at U.S. entry points and being interrogated for hours. …
  
  “But tourists from afar are a boon. Overseas vacationers stay longer and spend more money. They also take their impressions back to their home countries and share them. Average Americans have proved to be great ambassadors. The same study found that 74 percent of the foreigners who visit the U.S. leave with a highly favorable impression of this country's citizens.
  
  “In a world in which terrorism is a daily occurrence, security must be a top priority. But the steps taken to ensure it should be reviewed frequently to ensure that the costs are worthwhile.”
  
  Read more: http://www.dispatch.com.



• November 27, 2006
  Omaha World-Herald
  Welcome or Not?
  
  “A global survey sponsored by the Discover America Partnership, which promotes tourism, included discouraging news: Rude immigration officials and visa delays keep millions of foreign visitors away from this country every year. …
  
  “The United States has long been among the world's top tourism destinations. But it won't retain that distinction long if these perceptions persist.”
  
  Read more: http://www.omaha.com.



• November 25, 2006
  The Oklahoman
  Not Very Welcoming
  
  “America leads the world in rude. … Delays getting a visa and rude entry officials are to blame for keeping millions of foreign visitors away, according to the poll taken for the Discover America Partnership.”
  
  Read more: http://newsok.com.

Read older news items

Power of Travel (GMI Research, 2005)

• Those who have visited the U.S. are 42 percent more likely to have a favorable opinion of the U.S.
• Of those that haven't visited the U.S., only 38 percent hold a favorable opinion of the country; 54 percent of those that have visited have a favorable opinion of America (16 point increase represents a 42 percent difference)
• The power of travel also increases favorability toward Americans: 72 percent of those that have visited hold a favorable view of Americans versus only 61 percent who haven't visited