Tighter Airport Security Hurts Us Tourism

The US has suffered a sharp drop in tourism since 9/11, mainly because of concerns over tighter passport and customs controls, according to the travel industry.

It estimates that there has been a 17% drop in the US share of tourism, costing the country an estimated $1bn (£508m) in lost revenue over the past five years and almost 200,000 jobs.

"We are in the midst of a travel crisis and it is time for Congress to act," said Stevan Porter, president of Intercontinental Hotels Group and chairman of the Discover America Partnership, an umbrella group of tourist organisations set up in September in response to the crisis.

"Our economic security is suffering from a drastic decline in overseas travellers and we are missing an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen America's image," Mr Porter said. Giving evidence to a Senate committee, he added: "The policies implemented over the past five years appear to have strengthened our security. Lost, however, were efficiencies and a semblance of customer service."

The Travel Industry Association of America said the number of visitors from the UK had declined from 4,703,000 in 2001 to 4,345,000 in 2005, a drop of 7.6%. UK visitors to other countries - such as Canada, Australia and China - increased during the same period. The figures are included in a document, A Blueprint to Discover America, that sets out proposals for tackling the crisis. It suggests streamlining the visa process and a major promotion campaign.

A Discover America Partnership survey of more than 2,000 non-American travellers in October and November found 66% were "worried that they will be detained for hours because of a simple mistake or misstatement at a US airport".

Although the organisation expressed optimism that the Senate hearing had gone well, the crisis has the potential to become much worse. This month the US tightened up rules on travel to and from Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Senator Byron Dorgan, who chairs the Senate committee investigating the issue, said: "It's a significant part of the economy and we're losing our share."