Will New Travel Coalition Reverse Visitor Drop?

by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:21 AM ET, Wed January 17, 2018

A new coalition of industry insiders promoting tourism to the United States launched Tuesday with the intent of reversing a drop in international visitors since 2015.

Visit U.S. will consist of travel, retail, hotel and gaming industry leaders who will work with President Donald Trump and his administration to entice international travelers to visit America. Some members of the new coalition include American Hotel & Lodging Association, U.S. Travel Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Restaurant Association and the American Gaming Association.

While the U.S. remains the second most popular destination for foreign visitors, behind only France, new data suggests Spain may soon overtake America for the No. 2 spot.

Visit U.S. suggests the decline is due in part to a strong U.S. dollar, economic issues in other countries and the proliferation of low-cost airlines in Europe.

The new coalition revealed that America welcomed 13.6 percent of all the world's long-haul visitors in 2015, but the number dropped to 11.9 percent last year, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

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