BY JAMES WILKINSON
United States President Barack Obama has signed an executive order and announced a number of key initiatives to boost the travel and tourism sector in the USA, particularly from the emerging markets of China, India and Brazil.
Speaking at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, this morning (Jan 19 local time), President Obama said the aim of the new initiatives was to make the United States the world’s top travel destination and to spur job creation.
“Every year, tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come and visit America,” the President said. “And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work.
“We need to help businesses all across the country grow and create jobs, compete and win.
“That’s how we’re going to rebuild an economy where hard work pays off, where responsibility is rewarded, and where anyone can make it if they try,” President Obama said.
Emerging outbound markets of China, India and Brazil are keys to the success of his tourism goals and as such, his government has pledged to increase non-immigrant visa processing capacity in China and Brazil by 40% in 2012.
China and India are also key emerging markets for Australia and New Zealand and the push from the US Government to capture as greater share as possible will mean the tourist boards down under will also have to increase their marketing and promotion to ensure the market does not slip the United States way.