International Tourism Could Spark American Economy (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Is it time for the United States to ease up on visa restrictions? For the American workers' sake, I think so. International visitors are expected to spend more than $152 billion in the year 2012, according to the Los Angeles Times. This sounds like a lot, but foreign tourists could offer an even larger boost to the U.S. economy if the current bill before Congress to ease visa restrictions passes.

S. 1746 is a bill designed to stimulate international tourism to the United States of America. Supporters believe this will be the answer to a struggling economy and will create jobs, while anti-immigration proponents are strongly against loosening the restrictions. They are afraid a steady stream of foreign visitors would put the nation at risk adding that the U.S. is already too accessible. I feel the risk will be there with or without restrictions. People with ulterior motives will not be so easily deterred, but visitors who want to spend money at Disney World or Vegas will be the ones unnecessarily discouraged.

As expected the proposed overhaul has been endorsed by business that will serve to profit the most from the increase in tourism, namely the National Retail Federation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. In addition both parties are surprisingly on the same page for this issue. Republicans and Democrats have been backing the proposed changes highlighted on six bills that are making their way through the House and Senate.

There is no doubt that the American economy needs a boost. The Associated Press reports that the decline in foreign travelers over the past decade has cost American workers $859 billion in untapped revenue and at least a half million potential jobs.

The decline is not due to lack of desire. The extremely long waiting periods before being allowed to enter the U.S. is the main stumbling block to potential job creation for U.S. workers. Geoff Freeman, CEO of the US Travel Association said, "Every day a person is waiting for that interview is a day a person cannot be here supporting the American economy," as quoted by the Associated Press.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111229/bs_ac/10761669_international_tourism_could_spark_american_economy

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