WASHINGTON --
While the U.S. government is taking steps to help ease inbound
travel for foreign visitors to the country, U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, in an address to the delegates attending the
World Travel & Tourism Councils Global Travel & Tourism
Summit here, called upon the travel industry to help inform
visitors about security requirements.
When people have
this important information, they can plan ahead and their travel
experience is therefore smoother and more positive. With your help
on this issue, travelers, the travel industry and our government
can work and benefit together, Rice implored delegates.
Rice said that in
the wake of the 9/11 attacks, which involved foreign nationals who
flew hijacked commercial
airplanes into New Yorks World Trade Center and the Pentagon in
Washington, the government adopted measures to secure U.S.
borders.
The terrorists
who attacked us on that September day and wish to hit us again
depend on illicit travel practices for their operations, she said.
When we make it harder for terrorists to travel, we make it hard
for them to attack us. It is absolutely vital to us, all of us, to
enhance the security of international travel. Another terrorist
attack will not just be damaging to America, it will be extremely
detrimental to honest travelers everywhere.
The government
has since instituted new requirements to obtain visas to visit the
U.S., such as requiring applicants overseas to be interviewed face
to face with a U.S. consulate official.
During the
two-day WTTC summit, attendees were critical of such requirements
arguing they have the unintended consequence of deterring leisure
and business travel to the U.S.
U.S. travel
industry officials also urged the government to do more to ease
entry for legitimate travelers.
I know that some
of our initial security measures after Sept. 11 have caused delays
in getting visas for some and even led some to believe that the
U.S. is no longer welcoming to them, Rice said. Weve heard these
legitimate concerns and we are doing everything we can improve our
visa policies.
Rice said the
government now seeks to strike a balance.
We certainly dont
want to make things more difficult for legitimate travelers, she
said. Improving global travel is a public-private partnership and
we in the State Dept. are working hard to do our part.
For instance, she
said the State Dept. has created 515 consular positions since
September 2001, and the new positions are helping to make the visa
process more transparent, more efficient and hopefully, more
expeditious.
Rice said about
97% of inbound travelers seeking entry visas receives them in a day
or two and we have dramatically reduced the wait time for the rest.
We are now issuing more visas than at any time since Sept.
11.
Rice also
expressed her belief that travel could play a role in bolstering
understanding between individual countries and their
people.
Travel to another
country -- for whatever reason -- is a highly entertaining and
enriching experience. Travel fosters understanding. It builds
respect, she said. The knowledge and experience that citizens gain
in their private travels is vital to the cause of diplomacy and
international understanding in the 21st Century.
To contact
reporter Michael Milligan, send e-mail to [email protected].