Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
U.S. Department of State
The U.S. Department of State plays an important role in international travel. The department
issues passports to U.S. citizens and visas to foreign citizens. State Department policies have a
worldwide impact. An example is the recent Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 required the Department of Homeland
Security and Department of State to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S.
citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a combination of
documents, that denote identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Congress
amended portions of the act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative implements
this mandate.
On January 23, 2007, U.S. citizens traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico,
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda were required to present a valid U.S.
passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. The same requirement
for travel by land or sea took effect January 1, 2008.
The initiative has resulted in a tremendous demand for passports. Currently, 85.5 million
Americans have a U.S. passport, approximately 28 percent of the population. This pales in comparison
with Canada, where 40 percent of the population has a passport.
Travel warnings are another responsibility of the Department of State. Travel warnings are issued
when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid certain countries. In addition, the
department issues Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world with information on
such matters as the health conditions, crime, entry requirements, currency, any areas of instability, and
the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Other (U.S.) Government Agencies
Numerous other government agencies play an active role in tourism. The U.S. Customs Service
monitors international travel, the U.S. Bureau of the Census compiles travel statistics and data,
the Interstate Commerce Commission regulates bus transportation, the National Maritime
Commission deals with ships, the National Park Service and the Forest Service provide and
administer many scenic attractions and facilities, the Bureau of Land Management is involved in
several tourism initiatives (such as Back Country Byways, Adventures in the Past, and Watchable
Wildlife), the Bureau of Reclamation administers over 300 recreation areas in 17 western states,
and the Federal Highway Administration is involved in the National Scenic Byways program, with
the objective of increasing tourism while preserving the environment. Other agencies involved in
tourism are the National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Marine Sanctuary Program,
Tennessee Valley Authority, Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the
Immigration and Naturalization Service.
United States Travel Association
The Washington, D.C.
(USTA) is the leading private tourism
organization in the United States. It was formed January 1, 2009, with the merger of the Travel
Industry Association (TIA) and the Travel Business Roundtable. The nonpro
t association serves as the
unifying organization for all components of the U.S. travel industry. The business of travel and tourism
in America is served by more than one-half million different organizations that offer a wide range of
services to the traveler.
Originally founded in 1941, U.S. Travel has grown from a small association of travel of
cials into a
national nonpro
t organization with a membership that now represents all components of the travel
-
based
United States Travel Association
Search WWH ::
Custom Search