Discover America Partnership

The Discover America Partnership media center includes links to releases, testimony and other background information. For more information, to speak with a partnership official, or for b-roll footage, please contact:

Press Releases, Statements, Op-Eds and Ads

• April 29, 2008 - TIA: Successful Implementation of Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Requires Vigorous Public Awareness Campaign
• April 22, 2008 - TIA: Travel Industry Committed to Working with Department of Homeland Security, Private Sector to Build Efficient and Secure Air Exit System
• April 18, 2008 - TIA: Travel Community Praises Secretary Chertoff for Aggressive Visa Waiver Program Expansion
• March 17 - TIA: Travel Community Praises DHS Expansion of the Visa Waiver Program
• March 13, 2008 - Advertisement – TIA: “It’s Time to Promote America” in USA Today
• March 12, 2008 - TIA: Travel Community Applauds Promising Action on Visa Waiver Program Expansion
• March 10, 2008 - TIA: United States Welcomes Two Million Fewer Overseas Visitors in 2007 than in 2000
• February 28, 2008 - TIA: Travel Community Lauds Visa Waiver Program Expansion; Most Significant Effort Post 9/11 to Improve Travel Process
• February 26, 2008 - TIA: Travel Community Applauds First Step in Visa Waiver Program Expansion
• February 21, 2008 - TIA: Double-Digit Decline in Overseas Travel to the United States Persists Through 2007
• January 29, 2008 - TIA: Latest DHS Border Policy Could Harm American Economy
• January 19, 208 - Op-ed: "Nation Needs Program to Lure Foreign Travelers," The Examiner, by Roger Dow
• January 18, 2008 - TIA: Travel Community Calls on Department of Homeland Security to Alter January 31 Roll-Out Plan of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
• January 16, 2008 - TIA: TIA Lauds Federal Advisory Panel Recommendation to Launch U.S. Travel Promotion Campaign
• January 14, 2008 - TIA: Travel Community Urges President Bush to Include Travel Promotion Act in Economic Stimulus Package
• January 10, 2008 - TIA: Travel Industry Association Launches “Change the Debate” Campaign
• December 19, 2007 - Congress Completes Extraordinary Year for Travel Reform
• December 17, 2007 - Omnibus Spending Bill Will Increase Security, Boost the Economy and Strengthen America’s Image Abroad
• December 13, 2007 - Increase in Visa Fee Should be Accompanied by Administration Pledge to Decrease Wait Times at Consulates Around the World
• December 5, 2007 - Travel Industry Leaders Welcome Rollout of Enhanced Screening Technology at U.S. International Airports
• November 2, 2007 - Op-ed: "As Good As Advertised," The Hill, by Reps. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Jon Porter (R-Nev.)
• November 1, 2007 - Overseas Travel to the United States Still Dramatically Below Pre-9/11 Levels While Global International Travel Continues to Grow
• October 2, 2007 - Op-ed: “As Good As Advertised,” The Hill, by Reps. Bill Delahunt and Jon Porter
• September 30, 2007 - 9/11 Is Over, by Thomas L. Friedman
• September 28, 2007 - Gov. Ridge Talks About the Importance of the "Travel Promotion Act of 2007" on the “CBS News Weekend Roundup with Dan Raviv”
  
• September 27, 2007 -- Advertisement -- Discover America Partnership’s Advertisement in Politico (PDF)
• September 26, 2007 -- Gov. Ridge Talks About the Importance of the "Travel Promotion Act of 2007" on "WTOP”
  Segment 1 | Segment 2
• September 24, 2006 - Gov. Ridge Talks About the Importance of the "Travel Promotion Act of 2007" on "The Daily Debrief on Federal News Radio AM 1050"
  
• September 24, 2007 -- More than 70 Companies and Associations Call on Congress to Strengthen America's Economy, Image Abroad
• August 3, 2007 -- President Bush Signs Legislation that will Attract Millions of New, Secure Visitors to the United States
  
• July 30, 2007 -- Discover America Partnership Applauds Representatives Delahunt and Blunt for Commitment to Bringing More Travelers to United States
• July 27, 2007 -- Congress Acts Decisively to Welcome More International Travelers
• July 27, 2007 -- Senate Action on Homeland Security Appropriations Will Boost Security and Public Diplomacy by Welcoming More Overseas Travelers to United States
• July 17, 2007 -- Business and Travel Industry Leaders Urge House to Adopt Senate Provisions on Visitors’ Visa and Entry Reforms in 9/11 Bill
• June 27, 2007 -- Discover America Partnership Applauds Senate Commerce Committee Passage of Legislation Designed to Attract More International Travelers
• June 20, 2007 -- Discover America Partnership Praises Senators Dorgan, Stevens and Inouye for Introduction of Bill to Promote Travel to United States
• June 15, 2007 -- Ridge Cites Security Benefits of Increase in Overseas Visitors
  Click here to view the press conference.
• June 6, 2007 -- New Amendments to Senate Immigration Bill Would Enhance Security and Welcome More Legal Travelers to United States
• March 22, 2007 -- New Figures From Dept. of Commerce Show Continued Decline in Overseas Travel to U.S.
• March 20, 2007 -- Security and Travel and Not Mutually Exclusive
  • Testimony of Geoff Freeman, executive director, Discover America Partnership
  • Testimony of Chuck Merin, president, Travel Business Roundtable
• March 13, 2007 -- U.S. Senate Embraces Need to Welcome More International Travelers
• February 28, 2007 -- Discover America Partnership Statement on Senator Feinstein’s Visa Waiver Amendment
• February 14, 2007 -- Discover America Partnership Statement on Senator Voinovich’s Visa Waiver Amendment
• January 31, 2007 -- Advertisement: Discover America Partnership’s Advertisement in Roll Call, Congress Daily, and The Politico (PDF)
• January 31, 2007 -- Discover America Partnership Unveils Legislative Proposal to Halt Nation’s Travel Crisis; Improve America’s Image Abroad
  • A Blueprint to Discover America (PDF)
  • Rice-Chertoff Initiative Evaluation, One Year Later (PDF)
  • Blueprint Press Conference Podcast
• January 23, 2007 -- Decline in U.S. Share of Global Travelers Since 9/11 Cost Nation $93 Billion; $15 Billion in Lost Taxes
• December 20, 2006 -- First Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Teams with the Discover America Partnership to Evaluate U.S. Entry Process
• November 20, 2006 - Study: Perceived Treatment of Foreign Travelers Driving Away Visitors, Damaging America’s Image Abroad
  • View Survey Findings (PDF)
  • Listen to the November 20th conference call on DAP's survey about Foreign Travelers' perceived treatment during their visit to the U.S (WAV, 38 min)
  • Topline Findings from the Survey of International Traveler Perceptions (PDF)
  • Survey Methodology (PDF)
• November 20, 2006 - Advertisement: Discover America Partnership's Advertisement in USA Today (PDF)
• Statement from Geoff Freeman, Executive Director of the Discover America Partnership (September 29, 2006):
  “The recent decision of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a victory for travelers around the globe. This is an important sign that policymakers are beginning to recognize that security and entry into our country should be fair and balanced. This crucial decision is one step in the right direction, empowering America to begin to reclaim its economic and diplomatic security at home. The Discover America Partnership will continue to champion forward-thinking measures that seek to strengthen America’s image through the power of travel.”
• September 13, 2006 - America's Image Abroad in Crisis: CEOs Issue National Challenge; Launch Campaign to Strengthen Image by Unlocking Power of Travel
• September 13, 2006 - Advertisement: Discover America Partnership's Advertisement in Roll Call (PDF)
• July 23, 2006 - Op-ed: "Draw More Tourists to America to Improve U.S. Reputation," by Jonathan Tisch and Roger Dow
  
• July 19, 2006 - Op-ed: “U.S. Image Abroad? Take It Personal,” by Jonathan Tisch and Roger Dow

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