A Year of Modernization: U.S. Travel Applauds Progress, Urges Continuation to Achieve Historic Success

WASHINGTON (February 20, 2026)—One year after U.S. Travel’s Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel released its landmark report, the U.S. Travel Association today highlighted meaningful progress in modernizing America’s travel system—while warning that certain policy proposals, including a $250 "visa integrity fee” and expanded social media screening requirements for visa waiver travelers, could undermine recent gains and weaken U.S. competitiveness.

This comes as international travel to the U.S. declined in 2025 for the first time since COVID—alongside a $120 billion reversal in travel spending over the last decade. The U.S. once earned more from international visitors than Americans spent abroad—now it’s the opposite. That means fewer travel dollars supporting U.S. jobs and businesses, and a sign that America is losing ground to global competitors.

The Commission's February 2025 report laid out a clear roadmap to modernize America's travel system at a critical moment for the nation. Over the past year, the administration has taken significant action to advance key recommendations, helping improve security, efficiency and system readiness as the United States prepares for a historic decade of global events.

"We've made real progress together over the past year," said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO from U.S. Travel Association. "Now we need policy discipline to match our infrastructure investments. The question is simple: do we want to welcome the world or make it harder for them to come?"

As the U.S. prepares to host America 250, the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics—events that together could generate nearly $100 billion in economic impact—the stakes have never been higher. Realizing that opportunity depends on creating a travel system that is efficient, predictable and competitive.

Significant Progress Over the Past Year
The administration has taken notable action aligned with the Commission's recommendations:

Strengthening readiness for major global events

• Coordinated federal leadership structures to prepare for upcoming global events and manage increased travel demand
• More than $1.6 billion in federal funding for security and operational preparedness tied to the World Cup and Olympics
• A $12.5 billion down payment to modernize the National Airspace System, supporting air traffic control technology, infrastructure and workforce development
• A budget request for full funding of Brand USA to promote international travel and provide clarity around visa and entry requirements

Improving the visitor visa process

• Deployment of more than 400 additional consular officers to high-demand posts abroad
• Expansion of Visa Waiver Program engagement
• Preservation of interview waiver authority for qualified, low risk visitor visa renewals
• Expedited visa processing for World Cup ticket-holders
   

Modernizing customs and aviation security

• Funding for 5,000 additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to reduce customs wait times
• Ending of the "shoes off" policy for all travelers
• Expansion of biometric tools for international entry/exit and airport screening to improve security and enhance the travel experience
• Launching One Stop Security and International Remote Baggage Screening to raise global aviation security while removing duplicative re-screening and bag recheck for connecting travelers
   

Policy Concerns That Could Slow Momentum

After a year of meaningful progress, industry leaders worry that cost increases and new entry requirements could slow momentum just as global events create historic demand.

Two proposals under consideration, a “$250 visa integrity fee” and expanded social media screening for visa waiver travelers, have raised concerns among industry leaders about potential impacts on visitation and competitiveness. Travel economists estimate that a $250 visa fee could reduce international travel spending in the U.S. by $2.9 billion each year and put 15,000 American jobs at risk.

"Other destinations are actively competing for international travelers—streamlining entry, reducing costs and marketing aggressively," said Freeman. "The U.S. has a choice: make it easier or make it costlier. You can't modernize entry with one hand and add barriers with the other. We need alignment."

Both industry and government recognize that the world is watching as America prepares to host major global events. Policy choices made now will signal whether the U.S. is serious about welcoming international visitors or creating new obstacles.

"The administration has shown a real commitment to modernizing our travel system," Freeman added. "We're confident that the same commitment will guide decisions on policies that affect international visitation. The world is coming, let's make sure we're ready to welcome them."

U.S. Travel looks forward to continuing its partnership with the administration and Congress to ensure policy choices align with the historic opportunity ahead—welcoming the world while maintaining security and competitiveness.