Skift Take
The fastest growing sector of inbound tourists to the U.S. is from Brazil, China, and India -- thanks largely this year to the eased visa rules.
USTravel
.@WhiteHouse spotlights #travel industry’s economic strength, commits to create more American jobs by growing travel
http://t.co/EJC3mpbl
Some numbers from the factsheet:
— In the first six months of 2012, demand for tourist and short-term business visas in Brazil increased 48 percent over 2011, and in China, demand increased by 38 percent.
— The State Department is adding 50 new consular positions in China and 60 new adjudicators in Brazil in 2012.
— Global Entry kiosks are now at 37 sites (including pre-clearance locations) and have been used more than 2.6 million times, freeing more than 50,000 inspection hours.
— TSA is currently doing streamlined processing for inbound passengers departing from the 14 international aviation pre-clearance locations that CBP operates in Canada, Aruba, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Ireland, essentially making them go through clearances on foreign soil instead on when they land in U.S.
Full text of the Travel and Tourism fact sheet:
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