LOS ANGELES | U.S. entry and visa policies and unfriendly treatment of overseas visitors at the nation’s ports of entry are driving overseas visitors away from the U.S., resulting in significant economic losses for American cities, according to an independent survey released today by the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) and conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company.

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Further to concerns expressed by the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) — a strategic partner to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) - and other industry organizations, TBR is pleased that the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security have delayed a December 31, 2005 deadline for the first proposed phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which would have required travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America to present passports or other accepted secure documents at U.S. ports of entry. WHTI will require passports or other accepted documents for all air, sea and land travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America, Canada and Mexico by January 1, 2008. Currently, travelers need only a birth certificate and/or valid driver's license to travel between the U.S. and these locations.

Washington, D.C. — The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) today introduced travel and tourism as a campaign issue, urging President Bush and Senator Kerry to recognize the important contribution that the travel and tourism industry makes to the nation’s economy. In letters sent to the Bush and Kerry campaigns, TBR is asking the candidates to articulate how they would address the myriad of federal legislative issues that challenge the growth of travel and tourism.

Washington, D.C. — At a historic Summit in Washington, D.C. hosted by the Travel Business Roundtable with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly 300 industry leaders as well as senior members of the Bush Administration and Congress convened to address many of the key issues facing the industry.

The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) has taken a lead role within the travel and tourism industry with the release of a white paper for the Department of Homeland Security that includes recommendations to fortify America's borders while sustaining an industry that contributes to a prospering U.S. economy.

Washington, D.C. — In a recent letter to Commerce Department Secretary Don Evans, the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) expressed its strong disappointment that the vast majority of funding for an international destination marketing campaign has been rescinded. Specifically, $40 million of the $50 million appropriated by Congress for the campaign was rescinded in the FY04 Omnibus Appropriations bill. Congress originally appropriated the funding as part of the FY03 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which was signed into law last February and marked the first time the U.S. had allocated federal funds to brand and market the country as an international destination.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The partnership between the Bush Administration and the travel and tourism industry took another step forward when Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans convened the first meeting of the newly created U.S. Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board held on September 8 at Ellis Island in New York City.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) today praised Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for introducing a bill in the Senate that would permanently restore the spousal travel tax deduction. The legislation, (S.1408) was co-sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Zell Miller (D-GA).