Us Tourism Expecting To Boost This Year
The US Department of Commerce has recently revealed that a record-setting year is
being expected by the US travel and tourism industry as spending and visitor numbers are already well above last year's figures.
Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank stated that international visitors had recorded a spending of nearly $14 billion in travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the US in May. This accounts for $1 billion or 8 percent more than what was recorded in May of last year, and marks 29 straight months of growth.
This also means, according to Acting Secretary Blank, that the United States is on pace for a record-setting year with international visitors having spent over $68 billion so far, up 12 percent compared to last year."
Moreover, according to the US Department of Commerce, there was also an increase of 13 percent in Eastern European visitors to the US, while visitors from Africa had also showed an increase of 20 percent, as well as visitors from Asia, showing an increase of 27 percent.
This recent development comes as no surprise as the US Government with its US State Department has been rolling out new initiatives to promote the United States as a premier destination for international travelers.
Recently, the White House, along with the US State Department had been unveiling new initiatives, capitalizing on visa demand to spur economic growth in the United States.
Travel and tourism had been known as a means of the U.S. government in strengthening its economy by creating jobs in communities across the United States.
According to Blank, tourism is a "high-growth bright spot in our economy," saying that with the positive increases in tourists spending, "it's clearer than ever that this industry is one of our key national strengths."
Already in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, 50% more visas were already processed in China and Brazil as compared to the same period in 2011. At the same time, the US State Department had also taken steps to dramatically decrease the wait for visa interviews in these countries. Short wait times around the world are designed to maximize the number of visitors who have an opportunity to visit the United States.
Increased efforts to expand membership of qualified countries under the Visa Waiver Program were also ordered by the US President since the first month of this year.
Currently, there are more than 60% of international visitors that do not require a U.S. visa, in most cases because they are from countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program.
Under the Visa Waiver Program, the nationals of the 36 participating countries can travel to the US without a visa by submitting an online ESTA or Electronic System Travel Authorization application. So VWP citizens are required to apply for the online ESTA to USA.
ESTA America is an automated system that is designed to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program.
These ESTA applications will enable eligible citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for combined stays of 90 days or less without having to obtain a visa.
The approved ESTA forms are valid for a period of 2 years or until your passport has expired, whichever comes first.
Countries currently part of the Visa Waiver Program include Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Germany, and France.
So, if you are eligible to apply for ESTA for USA, then submit now your ESTA application online and be one of the thousands of tourists to enjoy experiencing America.
by: Katie Gillan
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