In a recent press release, the U.S. Travel Association has called upon the federal government to implement specific policies aimed at revitalizing the travel industry and boosting global competitiveness. The plea comes in the wake of the association's biannual forecast, projecting that international inbound travel and domestic business travel in the United States will continue to struggle to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024.

The forecast, prepared by Tourism Economics and released just days after a global competitiveness report by Euromonitor International, highlighted the challenges faced by the U.S. travel market. The report positioned the United States at 17th out of 18 top markets for travel, citing decades of underinvestment and a lack of focus and coordination from federal policymakers.

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman emphasized the urgent need for federal intervention, stating, "While we inch back to pre-pandemic travel numbers, other countries are actively advancing strategies to gain international visitors and are now ahead of the United States in the race to win back the global travel market."

Forecast Findings:

1- International Inbound Travel: The forecast predicts a gradual recovery in international travel to the U.S., with volume reaching 98% of 2019 levels in 2024, up from 84% in 2023. However, global macroeconomic factors, a strong dollar, and visa wait times could pose challenges, with spending levels not expected to fully recover until 2026.

2- Global Competitiveness: Competing nations, including France and Spain, have recovered pre-pandemic visitation rates more swiftly, leading to a decline in U.S. global market share. The U.S. currently ranks behind in the global travel market.

3- Business Travel: Although business travel is expected to grow in 2024, economic slowdown may hinder its full recovery, with volume expected to reach 95% of 2019 levels by the end of the year. A complete comeback is not projected until 2026.

4- Domestic Leisure: Domestic leisure travel, which achieved a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, experienced decelerated growth in 2023 due to economic factors.

Policies to Stimulate Travel Growth:

The U.S. Travel Association outlined key policies under federal control to accelerate travel growth and enhance global competitiveness:

Lower U.S. visitor visa interview wait times, which currently average around 400 days in top visa-requiring inbound markets.
Reduce Customs wait times at U.S. airports and entry ports facing excessive delays.
Accelerate the deployment of biometric entry-exit security screening systems at U.S. airports.
Improve the overall air travel experience through a long-term Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.
Increase federal prioritization and focus on travel industry growth, aligning with efforts undertaken by other countries.
In response to the challenges identified, the U.S. Travel Association announced the formation of the Seamless and Secure Travel Commission, comprised of former government officials and private sector experts. The commission aims to provide policy recommendations to modernize the travel experience, enhance U.S. competitiveness, and foster industry growth, with the release of recommendations scheduled for autumn 2024.