U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced on Monday that the Department of Commerce has unveiled a new national travel and tourism strategy as part of a five-year goal to attract 90 million overseas visitors to the U.S. each year by 2027.
The Commerce Department outlined four goals in its strategy: promoting the U.S. as a travel destination, facilitating travel to and within the country, developing tourism to support underserved communities, and fostering more sustainable tourism.
“The impact of Covid-19 has taken a toll on our national and local economies, but it also has presented us with a unique opportunity to mold a more inclusive, equitable, sustainable and resilient travel and tourism industry than ever before,” Raimondo said in a statement.
“Our new strategy leverages the best of what the U.S. public and private sectors offer, which will promote jobs, recover lost revenues, and inspire unforgettable experiences.”
The Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office reported the decrease in travel and tourism to and within the U.S. accounted for 56 percent of the decline in the country’s gross domestic product in 2020. Meanwhile, 22.1 million international visitors came to the U.S. in 2021, up from the 19.2 million recorded for the previous year. Nearly 80 million international travelers visited in the U.S. in 2019.