US Travel Association reacts to travel ban
The US Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes voiced his concerns on the Biden administration’s decision to uphold travel restrictions
Barnes said in a statement: “Covid variants are of concern, but closed borders have not prevented the Delta variant from entering the US while vaccinations are proving incredibly durable to the virus’ evolution. This is why America’s travel industry is a vocal proponent of everyone getting a vaccine – it’s the surest and fastest path to normalcy for everyone.
“While other nations, like Canada, the UK and much of the EU have all taken steps to welcome inbound travellers this summer and rebuild jobs and local economies, the United States remains closed to one of the most important segments of the travel economy—the international inbound traveller.
“Given the high rates of vaccination on both sides of the Atlantic, it is possible to begin safely welcoming back vaccinated visitors from these crucial inbound markets. We respectfully urge the Biden administration to revisit its decision in the very near term and begin reopening international travel to vaccinated individuals, starting with air corridors between the US and nations with similar vaccination rates.”
The US Travel Association is a national, non-profit organisation representing all components of the travel industry. In 2020, travel generated US$1.5 trillion in economic output and supported 11 million jobs, a drastic decline from pre-pandemic figures. Meanwhile, US travellers still have a willingness to travel internationally with insurance to back them up.