Friday, June 21, 2024
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U.S. Commission outlines 5 steps to boost travel, aiming to enhance security and visitor experience.
Recent initiatives by the U.S. Travel Association and the Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel are set to revolutionize travel security and facilitation in the United States, aiming to boost the country’s appeal to global travelers and accelerate its recovery compared to other nations.
During a recent trip to the U.K., the Commission, led by former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan, collaborated with key U.K. airports and airlines, and U.S. government officials to explore travel modernization strategies. Meetings took place with executives at London Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, Edinburgh Airport, as well as with Virgin Atlantic, International Airlines Group, British Airways, and senior staff from the U.S. Embassy in London.
Advancing Cutting-Edge Innovations
The U.S. is forging strong partnerships with the U.K. and other allies to introduce groundbreaking improvements in travel security and facilitation. The Commission highlights several critical initiatives needing federal action:
- Removing restrictions on liquids and similar items in carry-on luggage;
- Expanding the One-Stop Security program to permit travelers and their baggage from certain international airports to skip redundant screenings in the U.S. for connecting flights;
- Enhancing Preclearance at selected foreign airports to conduct checks before travelers land in the U.S.;
- Utilizing biometrics to boost security, enhance the travel experience, and safeguard privacy, from visa processing to customs checks and passenger screening;
- Overhauling the U.S. visitor visa process to handle growing travel demands.
These measures aim to both improve security and make travel smoother.
A recent Euromonitor International survey placed the United States 17th out of 18 major countries for global travel competitiveness. This finding led to the establishment of the Commission, which is dedicated to devising strategies to elevate the U.S. as a top destination for international travelers, crafting a new vision and policy recommendations to modernize travel, enhance U.S. competitiveness, and foster growth.
“It’s time for U.S. officials to make a leap forward and put available tools in place at U.S. airports and borders to securely facilitate millions of new inbound visitors,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “With the World Cup, the Summer Olympics and other milestones just ahead of us, a decade of major events is on the horizon, and we must be prepared to efficiently and securely process millions of travelers to fully realize the benefits of serving as a host country.”
“With the Commission’s critical work nearing the mid-way point, security-based solutions that will give the U.S. a roadmap to best-in-class traveler security practices and grow our share of inbound travel is coming into clear focus,” Freeman said.
A report by the Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel is expected to be delivered to lawmakers and officials in Washington this fall.
