U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President Jonathan Grella issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court’s review of the executive orders on immigration, also referred to as the U.S. travel ban.
"As the Supreme Court considers the legal merits of the President Trump’s executive orders on immigration, we continue to urge the administration to draw a brighter line between its efforts to bolster national security and its desire to continue attracting valuable international business and leisure travelers,” Grella said.
"We have heard senior administration members say America is ‘open for business’ and ‘open to the millions of international visitors who wish us well,’ but they should be doing as much as possible to make sure there is widespread awareness of that sentiment abroad," he continued. "An overt message of welcome that accompanies tough talk aimed at terrorists and visa overstayers would do a lot to sustain and grow the immense economic benefit that comes from international travel to the U.S."
The U.S. Travel Association recently took a more defensive position against possible restrictions on travel after the Brand USA marketing campaign to promote international tourism to the U.S. was threatened by President Trump’s proposed budget cuts. The U.S. Travel Association’s annual tradeshow, known as the International Pow-Wow (IPW), was held earlier this month in Washington D.C. and carried the theme of “One Big Welcome."
