AH&LA Supports JOLT Act
Legislation Prioritizes Travel, Creates Jobs
March 23, 2012 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today announced support for the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel Act or JOLT Act.
The bipartisan JOLT Act was introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and co-sponsored by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Mark Kirk (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Marco Rubio (R-FL). The legislation will make it easier for international visitors to come to the United States by reforming the visa process, lengthening visa validity, expediting entry for priority visitors, and expanding the visa waiver program.
“International travelers want to visit America and we should welcome them with open arms,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joe McInerney. “The Jolt Act puts a priority on easing many of the antiquated rules slowing down the process in obtaining travel visas. Passing this legislation will significantly boost the U.S. economy and benefit every community across the country.”
America's burdensome visa process drives millions of international visitors to other countries at an enormous cost to our economy. Even as world travel grew by more than 60 million travelers between 2000 and 2010, the U.S. share remained essentially flat. As a result, our economy lost $606 billion in total spending from 78 million additional visitors - enough to support 467,000 more jobs annually.
By regaining America's pre-9/11 share of international travel, the United States could create up to 1.3 million new U.S. jobs and produce $859 billion in cumulative additional economic output. As AH&LA has relayed to Congress, increasing travel to the United States is the most effective form of economic stimulus - creating millions of new American jobs, adding billions to the U.S. economy, and benefitting every community around the country.
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