Latest news with #GeoffFreeman
Travel Weekly
10 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
High travel costs overshadow political concerns for overseas visitors, says U.S. Travel's CEO
CHICAGO -- On U.S. destinations' list of concerns, high prices rank higher than presidential politics, said U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman. "As I walk on the floor here and talk to people, the biggest concern I hear from buyers is not about administration policy. The number one concern I hear is the cost of travel," Freeman said on June 16 at U.S. Travel's annual IPW conference this week. "I was talking with someone earlier today who just said they went and got a latte and it was $8. That's just a really expensive latte. And it's fair to say that could be a shock for many travelers and it's something we've got to pay attention to." Freeman also said that while there is some weakness in inbound travel, the numbers are "fine," except for Canada. However, "fine" is a missed opportunity. "We should be driving an increase year-over-year in inbound travel to the United States," he said. "It should be a priority for the country. I appreciate that major events are a priority for the administration -- the World Cup, the Olympics, America's 250th birthday -- and they're driving a lot of focus. I hope we can earn the same focus on driving travel to the United States every day of the week. And we're making inroads with the administration to be able to have those conversations." The National Travel & Tourism Office's most recent overseas visitation numbers showed an 8% year-over-year increase in April, followed by a 2.8% dip in May. Year-to-date international visitation to the U.S. is down 0.8%, mainly due to a weak March, when travel fell 11.6%. The NTTO's numbers do not include Canada, the top source market for U.S. visitors, or land crossings from Mexico. Freeman said there has been a "handwringing, sky is falling" narrative about inbound travel in the media. "That's not what the numbers say," he said. "The numbers say that we have some weakness and softening. A lot of that is fueled by Canada. Canada is a market where the decline cannot be debated, and it also can't be argued why they're doing it. They're rallying around their flag, and we've got work to do to earn their business in the future." Freeman said he's disappointed with mainstream media coverage of international travel to the U.S., saying that the media wants to "use our industry to embarrass the administration. They want to make travel the victim and push this angle that the sky is falling. It's very disappointing." He pointed to efforts from the administration to send a welcoming message to travelers, including the presence of Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance for the rollout of the World Cup Task Force, where Trump and Vance said "very clearly in front of the journalists, 'We want you to come to America.' I think that was the first time they had made that comment in this administration. So we very much appreciate that. "That's not to say there aren't areas I think we can do better," he added. "I think we have to acknowledge that a perception has formed that the U.S. is not as welcoming as it was. That at a customs checkpoint you might get detained or your device might be searched. There's more we need to do to assure the world that we do want them to come, that they are a priority for us. And that's a combination of the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, Brand USA, all working together to address this."
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Is the FIFA Club World Cup being affected by what's happening in the US right now?
As the United States prepares to host the FIFA Club World Cup, concerns over international travel, fan safety, and economic uncertainty are threatening to dampen enthusiasm for the tournament. The tournament will bring 32 professional club teams from around the globe to 11 U.S. cities, with a $1 billion prize pool. Seen as a rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Club World Cup is facing a distinct lack of buzz both at home and abroad. The expansion of the field from seven to 32 teams has diminished the event's exclusivity, and ticket sales appear to be slow. Adding to the concerns are reports of foreign tourists being detained and visa processing delays. The U.S. Travel Association has urged the Trump administration to improve visa processing and customs wait times ahead of the Club World Cup, Ryder Cup, next summer's World Cup, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Association President Geoff Freeman noted that the wait in Colombia for a visa interview is upwards of 18 months, potentially impacting attendance at the 2026 World Cup. "They (the task force) recognize how important this event is: success is the only option. So we're eager to work with them to do whatever it is we need to do to ensure that we can welcome the millions of incremental visitors that we think are possible," Freeman said. "But these underlying issues of visa and customs, we've got to address." Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested longer shifts for consular staff and the use of artificial intelligence to process visas. "We want it to be a success. It's a priority for the president," said Rubio. Adding to the unease, a ban on travelers from multiple countries has raised concerns, despite an exemption for athletes and their immediate relatives. This has spurred worries over safety, with one Latin American supporters group in Nashville staying away from a recent Major League Soccer game due to ICE activity in the city. Danny Navarro, who offers travel advice to followers on his social media, highlighted anxieties among international travelers and the multicultural U.S. fan base. "They must know that there is an anxiety among international travelers wanting to come in. They must know there's an anxiety among the U.S. fan base that is multicultural and wanting to go to all these places. Are they going to? Are they going to be harassed by ICE?" Navarro said. With slow ticket sales and a lack of visible promotion in some host cities, it remains to be seen how these factors will impact the Club World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised "the world will be welcomed," but some observers believe the U.S. isn't rolling out the red carpet in the current climate.
Skift
05-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
White House Considers $1,000 Fee to Speed Up Tourist Visas, Memo Says
While fast tracking visitor visas would make travel easier for some travelers, it might not do much to solve the pressing issue of lengthy wait times for interviews. The Trump administration is weighing a $1,000 fee for expedited visa interview appointments for tourists and other nonimmigrant applicants, according to a State Department memo obtained by Reuters. The pilot could launch as soon as December. However, the agency's legal team said there was a "high risk" the proposed fee would be rejected by the White House budget office or struck down in U.S. courts, according to the memo. The memo said setting a fee higher than the cost to provide the service "is contrary to settled Supreme Court precedent." Currently, nonimmigrant visa applicants pay a $185 processing fee. "The Department's scheduling of nonimmigrant visa interview appointments is dynamic and we are continually working to improve our operations worldwide," a State Department spokesperson told Skift. The State Department reported it issued 11.5 million nonimmigrant visas during the 2024 fiscal year, including 8.5 million visitor visas. Reports of a possible $1,000 fee for an expedited visa interview come after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that the State Department was looking at ways to speed up the processing of visitor visas ahead of next summer's FIFA World Cup. U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman said in February that the extended wait times for visa processing at U.S. offices abroad were a major deterrent to visiting the country. The organization reported last month that the average visa wait time for applicants from top inbound markets was 188 days in April.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travel Industry Sounds Alarm: Expedia and Leaders Confront U.S. Tourism Concerns
SEATTLE, May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Top travel leaders, including Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin and President & CEO of U.S. Travel Association Geoff Freeman, gathered in Seattle at the annual EXPLORE conference to discuss turbulence in the global travel market. As economic pressures grow and international demand softens, industry insiders are calling for urgent action to encourage travel to and within the U.S. The two executives provide commentary on what the U.S. government must do now to protect one of its most vital economic engines, what to do about the drop in demand from Canadian travelers, and why economic softness may be good news for your summer vacation. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: Top Story Angles: The economic threat to U.S. travel: International arrivals are down, inflation is squeezing consumers, and global instability is reshaping demand patterns. 2026 could be a turning point — or a missed chance: With major global sporting events on the horizon, leaders stress that now is the moment to invest in infrastructure, streamline travel policies, and improve the traveler experience. Traveler frustration is peaking: At the summit, leaders are candid about the problems and focused on solutions. WHERE:Expedia HeadquartersSeattle, United States View original content: SOURCE Expedia Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Travel Weekly
13-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
WTTC calls projected decline in international visitors 'a wake-up call' for U.S.
The U.S. is on track to lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending this year and is projected to be the only country among the 184 analyzed that is forecast to see inbound visitor spending decline in 2025, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) said today. The latest Economic Impact Research from the WTTC and Oxford Economics found that international visitor spending to the U.S. is projected to fall to just under $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion in 2024, a 22.5% decline compared to the previous peak. "The U.S. is welcoming fewer visitors from its neighbors and countries further afield, which is a clear indicator that the global appeal of the U.S. is slipping," the organization said. • On the Folo podcast: The state of travel today The downturn, it added, will impact "communities, jobs and businesses from coast to coast." "This is a wake-up call for the U.S. government," Julia Simpson, the WTTC's CEO, said in a statement. "The world's biggest travel and tourism economy is heading in the wrong direction, not because of a lack of demand but because of a failure to act. While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the 'closed' sign." The concern echoes that of the U.S. Travel Association, whose CEO, Geoff Freeman, recently said that the $50 billion travel trade surplus the U.S. enjoyed 10 years ago has swung to a $50 billion deficit, a $100 billion reversal that threatens to get worse, and called for a welcoming message to potential travelers. A long road back? Simpson added that without urgent action to restore international traveler confidence, it could take several years for the U.S. just to return to prepandemic levels of international visitor spend, not even the peak from 10 years ago. "This is about growth in the U.S. economy -- it is doable, but it needs leadership from DC," she said. Simpson did not cite any of the probable reasons for the downturn, such as the tariffs and tariff threats on countries around the world; President Trump's rhetoric about making Canada the 51st U.S. state; and concerns from European governments about the detainment of European tourists at the Canada and Mexico borders. The WTTC said that U.S. Department of Commerce numbers from March show a "sharp and widespread drop in inbound travel from many of the country's key source markets, such as the U.K. down nearly 15% year over year, Germany down 28%, South Korea down 15% and other key markets such as Spain, Colombia, Ireland, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic all seeing double-digit drops between 24% and 33%. "As widely expected, the Canadian market is drying up, with early summer bookings down over 20% compared to last year," the report said. "This is more than a dip. It's a wake-up call." U.S. is 'losing its crown' The WTTC said that in 2024, nearly 90% of all tourism spending came from domestic travel, with Americans vacationing at home in record numbers. The organization said this heavy reliance on "homegrown tourism is masking a serious vulnerability: The international market is where the real growth lies, and the U.S. is losing its crown." In 2019, the WTTC said, international visitors to the U.S. generated $217.4 billion in revenue and supported almost 18 million jobs. "Today, that legacy is under threat," the organization said. "WTTC is calling for immediate action to address travel access, rebuild international marketing efforts and restore global traveler confidence in the U.S."
