At a press conference that took place this morning in Orlando, Fl. within the framework of IPW 2022, the largest international incoming tourism event in the United States, the president of the US Travel Association, Roger Dow, once again insisted on the need that the government act on two key issues that, if resolved, could accelerate the recovery of the arrival of foreign tourists to pre-pandemic levels: the elimination of tests for those vaccinated and the acceleration in the times for obtaining visas.

IPW convened global travel professionals, including U.S. destinations, hotels, attractions, sports teams, cruise lines, airlines and transportation companies, together with international tour operators, buyers and wholesalers from around the world, to meet under one roof—the Orange County Convention Center—for 77,000 scheduled business appointments over three days that will draw future travel and tourism business to the U.S. and facilitate an industrywide recovery in international inbound travel.

The delegation also included nearly 500 members of the international and domestic media. Reporters covered the event itself, and also met with travel business and destination leaders at the Media Marketplace to generate reporting on travel to the U.S.

In a Tuesday press conference, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow noted the significance of IPW in restoring inbound travel to the U.S., but also highlighted barriers that persist—including the pre-departure testing requirement for inbound vaccinated air travelers to the U.S., despite over 40 nations that have now dropped a similar requirement, and excessive interview wait times for visitor visas.

Dow said US Travel executives had gone to the White House last week to meet with the Task Force and its members said "the science and data do not support the testing requirement."

Incoming travelers are not only deterred by the test requirement, Dow said, but by other issues, including historically slow visa processing times that he called "totally unacceptable."

It's been delivered to the White House, and we'll continue to push," Dow said. "Frankly, in the travel business, we're very gracious ladies and gentlemen. But on this, we're turning up the heat. We will be more aggressive because it is causing many people to be out of work, many not to come to the United States, and there is no logic here. So you will see us become more aggressive. We have been kind, but now is the time to change this."

 
Regarding the visa, Roger Dow presented impressive data on the delay times it is experiencing today in key markets for the United States. In Mexico, the second largest issuer of tourists, there is an average delay of 538 days; in Brazil, seventh market, 262 days; in Argentina, fifteenth market, 529 days; while the global average is 419 days.

He added that US travel data indicates that removing the testing requirement would add 5.4 million visitors in 2022 and $9 billion in spending.

Citing the strength of the domestic leisure market in the US, which he said has recovered "phenomenal", surpassing 2019 levels, "holes" in the travel recovery that need to be addressed include international travel, which fell 80% during the pandemic.

Average visa wait times in some countries have been 268 days (Israel), 538 days (Mexico), and 693 days (Colombia).

"Travel is like water," said Dow. "He's going to find the easy way. If we make it hard for people, we'll find another way. We're really missing out on rebuilding the American economy."

Dow also said that other countries with travel restrictions are changing the composition of the U.S. source market of entry. Three of the top 10 markets in 2019, Japan, China and South Korea, are no longer on the list and have been eliminated by Colombia, Spain and Italy.

U.S. Travel also released its updated international travel forecast, which projects 65 million international arrivals in 2023 (82% of pre-pandemic levels). The forecast projects that international arrivals and spending will fully recover to 2019 levels by 2025. In an upside scenario, the U.S. could gain an additional 5.4 million visitors and $9 billion in spending by the end of 2022 if the pre-departure testing requirement were removed.

U.S. Travel’s forecast extends to 2026 and also includes an analysis on where inbound travel should be in terms of growth had the pandemic not occurred.

This year’s strong attendance at IPW signals a desire to resume robust inbound travel to the United States.

“This IPW is sending a message that the U.S. is open for business and eager to welcome travelers from around the world,” said Dow. “We are taking a huge step forward here to bring back international travel, restore jobs, and re-establish the bonds that connect our countries and cultures.”

Carnival Cruise Line President and U.S. Travel National Chair Christine Duffy and U.S. Travel Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes also spoke at the U.S. Travel press conference.

IPW also included education opportunities for delegates. IPW Focus, a new program launched in 2021, provided delegates the opportunity to participate in sessions on an array of topics from technology and innovation to research and insights, presented by thought leaders and innovators from around the industry and beyond.

Brand USA returned as premier sponsor of IPW. American Express is the official card of the U.S. Travel Association.

This is the eighth time Orlando has served as host site for IPW—more than any other U.S. city—which last welcomed the global travel event in 2015.

This marked the final IPW led by U.S. Travel’s Dow, who previously announced his departure this summer following a 17 year tenure as president and CEO of the association.

The 54th annual IPW will take place May 20-24, 2023, in San Antonio, the first time the Texas city will serve as IPW host.

The photos of this note were taken with a motorola g41