The Hindu Business Line : US urged to change visa policy

The US Government should reduce barriers on travel around the world particularly to the US and promote the country worldwide as a travel destination, said Mr J.W. Marriott, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International, Inc.

While the global travel industry has grown about 30 per cent over the past 10 years, in part led by "emerging middle classes in China, India and Eastern Europe'', the US share of world travel has shrunk from nine per cent to six per cent.

Visa policy

The US visa policy also needs retooling, he said adding that the regulations require many potential visitors to the country to travel long distances to one of the few US consulates and wait for interviews and processing before being granted visas.

In Brazil, the average waiting time for an interview is 55 days. In 2000, 7.37-lakh Brazilians travelled to the US, while it was only 4.85-lakh last year. In 2000, Brazilians spent over $2.2 billion in the US, which fell by 40 per cent to $1.3 billion by 2004.

While security procedures are important, the current system "is fast becoming a barrier to our travel trade, hurting our economy by keeping more rials, euros and rupees from being spent here.''

M Marriott also voiced concern that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires travellers to use passports or special identification cards, could seriously disrupt travel between the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

He said the federal government "has not made enough progress in implementing the programme or communicating with the travelling public'', even though it will be effective next January and will be fully in force by January 2008.

Brand-building

A positive image helps to market American brands beyond the US, as well. Of the nearly 2,800 hotels owned by others and managed or franchised by Marriott, about 400 hotels are outside the US.

Local investors are "putting hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, banking on the value of an American brand''. If the US projects a "keep out'' image around the world, that engine of growth will stall, he said.