The White House
Office of the Press
Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 19, 2012
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of
the United States of America, and to improve visa and foreign visitor processing
and travel promotion in order to create jobs and spur economic growth in the
United States, while continuing to protect our national security, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The travel and tourism industry is one of our Nation's
leading service sectors and sources of exports. However, the U.S. market share
of spending by international travelers fell from 17 percent to 11 percent of the
global market from 2000 to 2010, more than a 30 percent decrease in our share of
the global market. This decrease was due primarily to increased international
competition, changing patterns in global development, and, to some degree, more
stringent security requirements imposed after 2001. Given the importance of the
travel and tourism industry to the U.S. economy and job creation, a coordinated
policy, consistent with protecting our national security, is needed to support a
prosperous and secure travel and tourism industry in the United States.
Steady progress has been made since 2010, when my Administration launched the
National Export Initiative and the Travel Promotion Act was signed into law.
While our processes for moving people and goods across our borders are now both
more secure and more efficient, new initiatives are needed to enable us to
better capitalize on the economic opportunities presented by a dynamic 21st
century travel and tourism industry.
Sec. 2. Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing. (a) The Assistant to the President
for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism shall, consistent with Presidential
Policy Directive 1 or any successor documents and in coordination with the
Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, maintain an interagency
process for coordinating the implementation of regulatory improvements and the
evaluation of legislative proposals to enhance and expedite travel to and
arrival in the United States by foreign nationals, consistent with national
security requirements.
(b) The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, in consultation with the
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the heads of such agencies
as appropriate, shall develop an implementation plan, within 60 days of the date
of this order, describing actions to be undertaken, including those that build
upon efforts underway, to achieve the following:
(i) increase nonimmigrant visa processing capacity in China and Brazil by 40
percent over the coming year;
(ii) ensure that 80 percent of nonimmigrant
visa applicants are interviewed within 3 weeks of receipt of application,
recognizing that resource and security considerations and the need to ensure
provision of consular services to U.S. citizens may dictate specific exceptions;
(iii) increase efforts to expand the Visa Waiver Program and travel by nationals
of Visa Waiver Program participants; and
(iv) expand reciprocal recognition programs for expedited travel, such as the
Global Entry program.
This plan should also identify other appropriate measures that will enhance and
expedite travel to and arrival in the United States by foreign nationals,
consistent with national security requirements, as well as any potential
challenges in achieving the stated goals of this subsection.
(c) Within 180 days of the date of this order, and periodically thereafter, the
Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall jointly submit through the
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism a report
to the President describing the progress on achieving the goals set forth in
this section (as well as areas of concern or barriers to achieving those goals)
to ensure the country remains secure while increasing travel and tourism to the
United States.
(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall establish and maintain a publicly available
website that provides updated metrics from across the Federal Government to
assist industry and travelers in understanding the current status of the
industry and its relevance to the economy, statistics on visa processes in key
travel and tourism markets, and entry times into the United States.
Sec. 3. Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness. (a) A Task Force on Travel and
Competitiveness (Task Force) is hereby established to develop the National
Travel and Tourism Strategy described in this section. The Secretaries of
Commerce and the Interior shall serve as Co-Chairs of the Task Force. The Task
Force shall also include the heads of the following executive departments and
agencies (agencies), or senior level officials designated by them:
(i) Department of State;
(ii) Department of the Treasury;
(iii) Department
of Agriculture;
(iv) Department of Labor;
(v) Department of
Transportation;
(vi) Department of Homeland Security;
(vii) Army Corps of Engineers;
(viii) Office of the United States Trade Representative;
(ix) Export-Import
Bank; and
(x) Other agencies invited to participate by the Task Force
Co-Chairs.
(b) The Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior, in consultation with the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President
for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the President for
Economic Policy, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall
coordinate the overall work of the Task Force and assist its members in
performing the responsibilities described herein.
(c) The Task Force shall develop a National Travel and Tourism Strategy with
recommendations for new policies and initiatives to promote domestic and
international travel opportunities throughout the United States with the goal of
increasing the United States market share of worldwide travel, including
obtaining a greater share of long-haul travel from Brazil, China, and India.
Such recommendations shall include, among other things, strategies to promote
visits to the United States public lands, waters, shores, monuments, and other
iconic American destinations, thereby expanding job creation in the United
States. The Task Force shall also consider recommendations to promote and expand
travel and tourism opportunities in rural communities. In addition, the National
Travel and Tourism Strategy shall identify any barriers to increasing the United
States market share of worldwide travel, and any other related areas of concern.
The Task Force shall deliver the National Travel and Tourism Strategy to the
President within 90 days of the date of this order.
(d) The Task Force, through the Secretary of Commerce, shall also coordinate
with the Corporation for Travel Promotion (currently doing business as Brand
USA, a non-profit corporation established by the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 to
promote travel to the United States) and the Tourism Policy Council, established
by the United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996. The Secretary of
Commerce shall serve as the liaison between the Task Force and the United States
Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (Board) chartered by the Secretary and shall
consider the Board's advice in his or her role with the Task Force.
(e) The Tourism Policy Council coordinates policies concerning travel promotion
and ensures consistency and cooperation among agencies, as set forth in the
United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996. The Task Force shall
consult with the Tourism Policy Council where appropriate to facilitate the
development of the National Travel and Tourism Strategy.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law, and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities its officers,
employees, or agents, or any other person.
BARACK OBAMA