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Industry News & Events
Industry News
RSAA is your source for the latest news on the inbound market. Be sure to check the links at the left to stay on top of all the most recent news and industry events. If you would like to submit an article or event for the site please send it to headquarters@rsana.com.
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Need- to- Know News
Carmine's Goes to Washington in a Big Way
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DHS Streamlines Visa Waiver Travel Process
Arrival/Departure Form (I-94W) Changeover to Electronic Record
The United States is phasing out its requirement for visitors to manually complete the green CBP Form I-94W paper arrival/departure document. This applies to air or sea travelers who are citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and who have received prior travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
The work to eliminate the form started as a result of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collaborated with the airlines, other federal agencies and industry partners to conform to the new requirements. Since January 12, 2009 all nationals of VWP countries have been required to apply for a travel authorization via ESTA before traveling to the United States. This will affect over two-thirds of overseas travelers to the United States.
Information collected from other automated sources related to the passenger’s itinerary (APIS, US-VISIT, admission record, the machine readable passport, etc.) have enabled DHS to create an electronic I-94W record for travelers that seek admission at U.S. air and sea ports of entry.
In addition to the security features made possible by ESTA, as outlined in the DHS press release <http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1274366942074.shtm>, the new electronic I-94W document will offer processing advantages:
- Enhanced Data integrity (elimination of manual keypunching and interpretation of handwritten entries),
- Quicker data turn-around for reporting purposes, in the long term,
- Enhanced matching of arrival to departure records, and
- Continued use of all data fields included in the current I-94W form.
After a successful pilot program, the automated processing is now being implemented for all carriers at all U.S. international gateway airports. Total coverage is expected by the end of this summer.
The I-94W forms will continue to be required at land borders; in case of system outages; and when deemed operationally necessary. Also, the I-94 white paper document, for citizens from non-Visa Waiver Program countries remains in effect for the foreseeable future.
As a result of DHS/CBP cooperation with airlines and all federal users there is currently a seamless transition to the automated system. OTTI and DHS/CBP will continue to deliver international arrivals data to industry users.
RSAA Sends Letter to Inbound
On May 26, 2010, RSAA sent a letter to the editor of Inbound addressing a number of misstatements appearing in a recent issue. The letter can be found here.
CBP Reminds U.S.-Bound Travelers from VISA WAIVER Program Countries to complete online travel authorization
WASHINGTON – On the one-year anniversary of implementing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds U.S.-bound travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries of the ESTA requirement. Beginning January 20, CBP will initiate a 60-day transition to enforced ESTA compliance for air carriers; VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound plane.
ESTA is an electronic travel authorization that all citizens of VWP countries must obtain prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP. ESTA has been mandatory since Jan. 12, 2009 for all nationals of VWP countries traveling to the U.S under the VWP. The requirement does not affect U.S. citizens returning from overseas or citizens of VWP countries traveling on a valid U.S. visa.
ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, and once approved, generally will be valid for up to two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations are valid for multiple entries into the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that ESTA applications be submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans.
The ESTA web site is available in 21 languages: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.
For more information about ESTA, please visit www.cbp.gov/ESTA.
ESTA FAQ
ESTA One Year Reminder
ESTA Promo 1
ESTA Promo 2
ESTA Promo 3
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U.S. COMMERCE DEPARTMENT FORECASTS REBOUND IN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES BY 2010
The U.S. Department of Commerce projects international travel to the U.S. to regain its footing by 2010, following its first forecasted year of decline in 2009 since 2003. Reflective of the current global economic environment, international travel is forecasted to decline by 8 percent in 2009. This is met by a projected rebound of 3 percent growth by the end of 2010, followed by 5 percent annual increases through 2013.
In 2009 twenty-four of the top 25 arrival markets are estimated to decline. The largest decreases will be from Ireland (-13%), Spain (-12%), and Mexico (-11%). The United Kingdom, France and Italy are each expected to post 10 percent declines for the year.
These decreases follow a record year for the United States in 2008, having hosted 58 million international visitors. In the long term, the forecast estimates an increase of 10 percent between 2008 and 2013 to reach a record 64 million international travelers to the United States.
The U.S. travel forecast was prepared by the Department of Commerce in conjunction with Global Insight, Inc. (GII). Forecasts are derived from GII’s econometric travel forecasting model and are based on key economic and demographic variables as well as DOC consultation on non-economic travel factors.
Forecast Highlights by Region
North America – The top two markets generating visitors to the U.S., Canada and Mexico, are forecasted to decline by 6 percent and 11 percent, respectively, in 2009, and to grow by 14 and 6 percent, respectively, from 2008 to 2013. By 2011, both Canada and Mexico are forecast to set new records for arrivals to the U.S.
Europe – Visitors from Europe are expected to decrease by 9 percent in 2009, the largest decline among the world regions. It will take the entire forecast period to regain this loss by 2013. The United Kingdom is projected to post a 10 percent decline in 2009, matched by France and Italy. Germany’s contraction is forecasted slightly less, at 6 percent for 2009. The United Kingdom and Germany are the only top European markets forecasted to recover by 2013.
Asia Pacific – Although Asian visitation is projected to decline by 5 percent in 2009, the forecast estimates a 21 percent growth rate by 2013 from 2008. Japan continues to be the largest Asian market and second-largest overseas market despite an estimated 5 percent decline in 2009. The longer-term forecast shows that by 2013, the U.S. will host 3.6 million Japanese visitors, up 10 percent from 2008. Substantial long-term double-digit growth is forecasted for the other key markets from Asia Pacific by 2013 compared to 2008: China is projected to increase by 61%; India by 43%; Korea by 22%; and Australia by 17%.
South America – South America is projected to contract by 4 percent in 2009, but then leads the growth in arrivals among all regions for the next several years. By 2013, South America will generate over 3.1 million visitors, a 23 percent increase compared to 2008, the second fastest growth rate among all of the world regions. The largest source market from within the region, Brazil, is expected to be down 8 percent in 2009, but to recover with a strong 21% increase by 2013 over 2008. This will put Brazil as the seventh top international market, displacing Italy by 2013. A strong rebound is projected for both Venezuela (up 17%) and Colombia (up 26%) to support the long-term forecast for the South American region for 2013 over 2008.
Travel and tourism represents one of the top services export for the United States and has produced a travel-trade surplus since 1989. For official information on international travel to the United States, including additional information on the forecast for travel to the United States for 2009-2013 for all world regions and over 40 countries, please visit http://tinet.ita.doc.gov.
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Travel Promotion Act Update
Update: March 04, 2010
The Travel Promotion Act cleared its last hurdle by a vote of 78-18 and President Obama signed the bill into law on March 4, 2010. RSAA is monitoring the implementation of the law and will communicate regulary with the membership on development.
This legislative cycle began with two bills. There was a Senate version (S.1023) and a House version (H.R. 2935). The two bills moved on a parallel path for most of the spring and summer. In late summer the Senate passed their version of the bill. In the last couple of weeks the congressional leadership put the Senate bill on a fast track through the House. The Senate bill was attached to a non-related House resolution regarding scholarships and passed the House by a overwhelming majority yesterday evening. This bill will now make its way back to the Senate for a final procedural vote. The bill is expected to pass and be sent to President Obama.
Throughout this process RSAA worked to secure language in the legislation that would provide for the following:
1. Inclusion of tour operators on the board of the Corporation for Travel Promotion.
Two board members shall have appropriate expertise and experience in the travel distribution sector, one of which shall be from the receptive/inbound tour operator sector.
2. Exclusion of tour operators from any assessment that the industry may wish to implement.
The Corporation may impose an annual assessment on United States members of the travel and tourism industry except for tour operators.
3. Prevention of an internal booking engine on any destination marketing website the Corporation for Travel Promotion might create.
The Corporation may develop and maintain a consumer marketing website for the purpose of communicating to and attracting international visitors to the United States. This website shall include destination information for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, both rural and urban areas, and shall not include an internal consumer booking engine or reservation system.
4. Prevention of links to advertisers or other entities on the homepage of any destination marketing website the Corporation for Travel Promotion might create.
5. Prevention of links to sites promoting non-U.S. destinations on any destination marketing website the Corporation for Travel Promotion might create.
External web links on the site including those connected to paid advertisements shall not be posted on the homepage of the marketing website and shall only promote destinations within the United States.
6. Ensure advertising access for all aspects of the travel community and prevent advertising dominance by any one sector or company on any destination marketing website the Corporation for Travel Promotion might create.
No single entity may purchase more than 5 percent of the total advertising space available on the marketing website, at least 10 percent of the space offered shall be reserved for small businesses and no industry segment shall receive favored pricing or access.
RSAA and USTA agreed to the points and the language as stated above. It was agreed that this language would be amended to the House version of the bill as no further amendments were being added to the Senate version. Within the last couple of weeks we received word that the leadership was going to attempt to push the Senate version of the bill though the House. This caused RSAA a great deal of concern since our points would now not be included in the legislation.
At that point RSAA and USTA agreed to a number of points that would strengthen our position as to the agreement outlined above. The agreement with USTA consists of the following items:
A colloquy stating the above noted points to be read on the floor of the House of Representatives by Rep. Roy Blunt. This colloquy states that the above mentioned items are an integral part of the Travel Promotion Act and should be seen as the intent of the Congress in the way this new law should be managed and implemented. Before the vote yesterday the colloquy was presented and read on the floor. You can view this at http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/289329-101. (Once you click play you can move the slide bar at the bottom to around the 259 minute mark to skip ahead to the colloquy.)
RSAA will have a seat on the task force to assist the Secretary of Commerce on the implementation of the new law. An RSAA board member has been appointed to this position and they will begin meeting next week.
These points will be included in the “gameplan” document that will detail the operational aspects of the law to the Department of Commerce. This plan will be used to lay the framework for the new Corporation for Travel Promotion.
RSAA will continue working hand-in-hand with USTA, the Department of Commerce and others to ensure that our interests and concerns are represented.
We are pleased to have been effective on this legislation. RSAA was the sole travel trade association that represented the interests of receptive tour operators and the international inbound industry throughout these proceedings. We would like to thank all of the receptive tour operator partners that wrote letters, called their congressperson and got involved in this process. A special thank you goes to AmeritcanTours International for their work, including use of their lobbyist, on this bill. Their early work on this bill laid the framework for these accomplishments.
RSAA is consistently looking for opportunities to be involved with government affairs that effect our segment of the industry. We urge you to pass along any information that you may receive about legislative initiatives in your area.
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Swine Flu Updates and Information
RSAA is monitoring the swine influenza situation as it develops and will provide the latest information available to its members. For the most recent information please see the links below:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Travel Industry Talking Points -http://www.tia.org/resources/Public_Affairs/Swine_Flu/Swine_Flu_Talking_Points4_27_2009.pdf
U.S. Health and Human Services - http://www.hhs.gov/
World Health Organization - http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
DHS ESTA Requirements Effective Jan. 12
DHS Reminds Visa Waiver Program Travelers of ESTA Requirements Effective Jan. 12
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today reminded travelers from all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries that they are now required to obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States. This requirement, effective today, applies to all eligible citizens or nationals traveling under the VWP.
"We have been collecting information from visa waiver travelers for decades, and establishing a program to get that same information in advance is one enhancement that allowed us to extend the valuable benefit of visa-free travel to eight new countries in 2008," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "In addition to building business and cultural ties with our partners overseas, this is a commonsense step into the 21st century that will improve our efficiency in screening and welcoming international travelers at our ports of entry."
ESTA is a web-based system, initially launched in August 2008, that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the VWP prior to boarding a carrier to the United States. To date, more than 1.2 million ESTA applications have been received, and more than 99.6 percent of applicants have been approved, most within seconds.
DHS will take a reasonable approach to travelers who have not obtained an approved travel authorization via ESTA, and will continue an aggressive advertising and outreach campaign throughout 2009. Travelers without an approved ESTA are advised, however, that they may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry. Visitors may apply for travel authorization via the ESTA Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
DHS received authorization for VWP reforms through the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The VWP is administered by the department and enables eligible citizens or nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. To be admitted to the VWP, a country must meet various statutory requirements, such as more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the U.S. and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports. VWP members are also required to maintain high counter-terrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.
The citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Eight of these countries joined the VWP in 2008, and their citizens and nationals have been required to comply with an ESTA since their designation as VWP participants: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Malta. For additional information on ESTA, visit http://www.cbp.gov/esta, and for more information on the VWP, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/business_pleasure/vwp/.
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