Articles tagged “customs”

Using mobile apps to speed the customs process at the airport is a logical step. Anything that can speed the customs process while maintaining security has got to be a good thing.

Do the newest automated kiosks at Orlando International Airport really reduce wait times for arriving international visitors? The jury is still out.

Vancouver Airport hasn't found its footing yet in social media, and for an airport with so much to offer, that would be a sensible next step.

Talk about ancillary revenue streams. Vancouver Airport Authority takes in a bunch of revenue by streamlining the flow of passengers through Customs at a handful of airports in Canada and the U.S.

Is Houston really considering ways to put international visitors first? And pay some airport workers a decent wage? While it may pain us to say this: Why can't other cities follow Houston's lead?

President Obama has enacted reforms that have cut visa wait times abroad and increased destination marketing. Policies to create a faster, more seamless entry would be the logical next step, as would releasing more money to pay customs and border control staff.

President Obama's initiatives -- including smoother visa processes abroad and expanding Global Entry -- aim to increase foreign arrivals and boost travel spend to $250 billion by 2012. A small but steady positive impact is already being seen.

The service could help the notorious long lines at major points of entry like Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles, where the CBP staff is always half of what it should be.

U.S. airlines and tourism lose money when international visitors have to wait for hours to navigate U.S. customs. There may be some politics at play in U.S. airlines opposition to the preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi, but there certainly are much busier airport gateways to the U.S. that could use similar streamlining.

Brand USA spends millions marketing the U.S. as a destination, but just fixing the gridlock at U.S. borders could probably do a lot more to entice visitors.