US agrees to government travel and tourism chief to drive pandemic recovery

The US government has been praised for starting a formal process towards travel and tourism recovery from the pandemic.

A new bill establishes the role of an assistant secretary for travel and tourism who will be responsible for developing a strategy to assist the US travel industry to recover from the impact of Covid-19. 

The proposed Travel and Tourism Act also provides authority for the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and directs it to assist with the recovery strategy.

A joint federal task force is to be established to address health, safety, security, and other “logistical” issues affecting air travel during and after the pandemic. A committee comprised of representatives of airports and other aviation stakeholders will advise the task force.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may also establish a pilot programme at up to six foreign airports to allow passengers to bypass domestic security re-screening at a connecting airport in the US.

The Act has been passed by the US House of Representatives and Senate and is awaiting the signature of president Joe Biden.

US Travel Association chief executive Geoff Freeman said: “This is a tremendous win for travellers, the travel industry and America’s economy.

“The idea to create a presidentially appointed, US Senate-confirmed position to lead federal travel policy has been around for decades. 

“Thanks to a bipartisan and bicameral group of congressional leaders, the United States will now join all G20 countries with a senior federal official focused on travel.

“The assistant secretary will play an important role as we partner with government to lower visitor visa wait times, modernise security screening and leverage new technologies to make travel more seamless and secure.”

The Global Business Travel Association said it saw the bill as a “positive step” in restoring global corporate travel and meetings in the US and abroad.

Chief executive Suzanne Neufang said: “Inclusion of these items is a great step forward in government and business working together. 

“It will help ensure we continue to get back to business travel, one of the important drivers for keeping economies moving around the world. 

“Face-to-face business meetings are instrumental in driving job creation, fostering team productivity, increasing corporate revenues, and facilitating expansion efforts.”