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    January 19, 2012

Obama Seeks Bigger US Share of International Tourism

   Kent Klein | White House
   President Barack Obama speaks about tourism and travel, along Main
   Street USA at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista,
   Florida, January 19, 2012.
   Photo: AP
   President Barack Obama speaks about tourism and travel, along Main
   Street USA at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista,
   Florida, January 19, 2012.

   President Barack Obama wants to make it easier for tourists from around
   the world to visit the United States. The president made the
   announcement on Thursday at one of America's leading tourist
   destinations.
   'I want America to be the top tourist destination in the world,' said
   President Obama.
   He went to Florida's Walt Disney World resort to announce a series of
   initiatives designed to make it easier for international visitors to
   enter the United States.
   World travelers complain that with increased security after the 2001
   terror attacks on New York and Washington, entering the United States
   has become more difficult, unpleasant and time-consuming.
   Many of those frustrated tourists stopped coming. White House officials
   say the U.S. share of the global travel market fell by more than 30
   percent between 2000 and 2010.
   To reverse that trend, the president is expanding the Global Entry
   Program, which he said protects America's borders and makes life easier
   for frequent visitors who qualify.
   'Instead of going through long lines at immigration, we can scan your
   passport [and] your fingerprints, and you are on your way,' said Obama.
   Tourism is big business in the United States. The president said that
   in 2010, 60 million people visited America and spent $134 billion.
   Obama is calling on his secretaries of Commerce and Interior to develop
   a strategy to market U.S. tourist destinations overseas and increase
   those numbers.
   'So that is what this is all about - telling the world that America is
   open for business, making it as safe and as simple as possible to
   visit, helping our businesses all across the country grow and create
   jobs,' said the president.
   The administration estimates that 1.2 million U.S. jobs are generated
   by international tourism. Industry officials say increasing America's
   share of the global tourism business could create another million jobs
   in 10 years.
   Obama says much of that growth could come from just a few countries.
   'Countries with rapidly growing economies, huge populations and
   emerging middle classes. Countries like China and India. And especially
   important here in Florida, Brazil,' he said.
   The president has ordered the number of U.S. tourist visas processed in
   China and Brazil increased by 40 percent this year. And worldwide, he
   wants applicants for tourist visas interviewed sooner.
   Obama's appearance at Disney World promoted his main campaign message
   of creating middle-class jobs. Florida, the fourth most populous U.S.
   state, holds its Republican Party presidential primary on January 31.
   It is expected to be one of the main battleground states in the
   November general elections.