International travel to US might not recover until 2024
International inbound travel in the US is not expected to recover to 2019 levels until 2024 at the earliest, according to the US Travel Association (US Travel)
US Travel estimates that declines in international visitation since the start of the pandemic resulted in nearly US$300 billion in lost export income and a loss of more than one million American jobs. The association also estimates that the international inbound travel segment will not recover to 2019 levels until at least 2024.
“While reopening our borders is a critical step in the right direction, much work remains to ensure an even recovery for international travel,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, US Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy. “Specifically, officials must fully reopen and resume visitor visa processing at US embassies and consulates to reduce the backlog for future visitors and accelerate the recovery of inbound travel.”
Only five countries can process visas
Of the top 20 countries for inbound travel to the US, only five countries have all US embassies or consulates fully open for visa processing, according to analysis by the US Travel Association. Other key policies, such as providing emergency relief funding to Brand USA, the United States’ destination marketing organization, will be essential to restoring international inbound travel. A bill to provide this funding passed the US Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation earlier this year.