LA and other US destinations lose out on potential visitors and spending

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Los Angeles was one of the most sought after tourist destinations of the US before the onset of the pandemic, witnessing a record 51 million domestic and international visitors, who spent $25 billion on hotel stays, food, tour buses and mementoes.

Now with the easing of the majority of pandemic travel restrictions, America’s tourism leaders are of the opinion that postponements by the federal government regarding permitting tourist visas are depriving L.A. and other U.S. tourist destinations of millions of visitors and billions of dollars in tourism expenditure.

Geoff Freeman, chief executive of the U.S. Travel Assn., said that extended delay has sent across a message to all potential travelers that the US is closed for business.

The U.S. Travel Assn. has released a study assessing that in 2023, the U.S. is predictable to lose $11.6 billion in tourism expenditure, since 6.6 million international travelers would not be able to acquire visitor visas for traveling to the U.S. in an appropriate way. A waiting period of 400 days and longer to obtain an interview for a visitor’s visa have discouraged prospective tourists, mainly from Brazil, India and Mexico.

As an alternative of visiting the U.S., most of these travelers would perhaps select another vacation spot, if visa wait times surpass a year, said a recent survey of approximately 2,500 prospective tourists from Brazil, India and Mexico.

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