Growth in U.S. travel and tourism is expected to slow this
year because of "anti-foreign sentiment" and the dollar's strength, according
to a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The sector contributed $1.5 billion (8.1%) to the country's
GDP in 2016 at a growth rate of 2.8%, but the council expects that growth to
slow to 2.3% in 2017. Its 2017 contribution will largely be aided by outbound
expenditure, which the council expects to grow by 5.4% this year.
The WTTC said the strong U.S. dollar will make the country
less attractive to visitors pricing-wise, and expects the money spent by international
visitors to the U.S. to drop by 0.6%. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's
travel ban is also contributing to that dampening growth. The WTTC said that
was evidenced in flight search data.
The U.S.'s business and leisure travel sector is No. 1 in
the world and represents 20% of the world's travel and tourism GDP
contribution, WTTC said. It accounts for 14 million jobs in the U.S., or 9.4%
of total employment.
"For the U.S. to continue on this growth path, it is
important to address the current forecast drop in inbound travel, and to
reverse the negative perceptions created by the proposed travel ban," WTTC
president and CEO David Scowsill said in a statement. "After all, 9.4% of
American jobs depend on travel and tourism. We urge the administration to
recognize the importance of our sector, both to the economy and to American
jobs."
Scowsill outlined five areas where the council is looking
for support: keeping the country "open for business" by not
discriminating among those who wish to travel here, supporting Brand USA
through marketing investments; investing in infrastructure like airports and
roads, maintaining open skies, and "promoting a sustainable approach
towards natural and cultural attractions, which need to be nurtured and
protected for the country to remain competitive."