Topic: Obama in Disney World to unveil tourism plan
smart2009's photo
Thu 01/19/12 10:53 PM
President Barack Obama takes his economic message to Walt Disney World Thursday, unveiling a plan to make it easier for travelers to get tourist visas, especially those from China and Brazil, emerging economies with a growing middle class.

The government's Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that for every 65 additional tourists visiting the U.S., one new job is created. The Commerce Department says international travel is worth $134 billion, with Chinese and Brazilian tourists spending an average of $5,000 to $6,000 per trip.

So Mr. Obama will sign an executive order directing the State Department and Homeland Security Department to make sure that 80 percent of non-immigrant visa applicants are interviewed within three weeks of their application.

The change could have a big impact on the tourism industry, according to travel editor Peter Greenberg, who said the lengthy visa process has given the U.S. a reputation of being unwelcoming and inhospitable.

msharmony's photo
Fri 01/20/12 12:36 AM
and thats not nearly as difficult as it is for immigrant visas

our wait was nearly three years of form after form and fee after fee, just to be rejected,,,,