1. United states travel & tourism advisory board
Mary Motsenbocker & Gary Schluter
Colorado Governor’s Conference
September 16, 2016

2. Travel & Tourism advisory board (ttab)
Established in 2003
Serves as the Advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce in matters relating to the travel & tourism industry in the U.S.
Comprised of 32 members who represent a broad spectrum of the travel industry
Advice provided aims to help the U.S. government…
Address emerging issues affecting the travel sector
Prioritize travel & tourism policies that stimulate growth and solve industry-related problems
Board members collaborate with other government agencies as part of the Tourism Policy Council (TPC)
TPC advances the development of the President’s National Travel & Tourism Strategy

3. President Obama’s Strategy Goal
Developed in 2012 by the Tourism Policy Council (TPC)
Goals:
Attract 100 million international visitors to the U.S.by 2021
Encourage Americans to see America
Travel & Tourism is the largest U.S. service export
Supports 1.1 million American jobs
International visitors spent $84 billion more in the U.S. than citizens of the U.S. spent in international countries
Largest positive trade balance for the service industry
4% increase of international visitors occurred from January – April 2016

4. Tourism Policy Council (TPC)
Focus on:
Specific actions needed for federal policies & programs
Market Access & Opportunities
Key Markets to progress toward achieving the goals of the National Travel & Tourism Strategy
National Travel & Tourism Strategy
Developed in 2012 by TPC for the Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Commerce through TPC oversees the interagency advancement of goals
National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO) is responsible for overseeing implementation of strategy
Who is TPC?
Secretary of Commerce
Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
Director of Office of Management & Budget
Secretary of State
Secretary of Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Transportation
Commissioner of U.S. Customs Service
Commissioner of Immigration & Naturalization Service
President of U.S. National Tourism Organization

5. Tourism Policy Council (TCP) ----------------
National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO)
State
DHS
Interior
USDA
DOT
Labor
USTR
SBA
U.S. Army Corps
Treasury/OMB
EOP
U.S. Travel & Tourism Industry
Brand USA
TTAB

6. Travel Security & Customer Experience
TTAB
Travel Security & Customer Experience
Visa Facilitation
Key Market Engagement
Research
Mary
Gary
Ttab subcommittees
Formal federal advisory committee to advise secretary of commerce

7. TTAB Subcommittees TRAVEL SECURITY & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Goals:
To provide quality customer service experience at U.S. airports
To expand enrollment in the Trusted Traveler programs
To develop practices in airport excellence through partnerships with the private sector
To explore requirements for travelers to feel safe enough to travel in the face of security threats
Committee Action:
Mobile enrollment technology
Marketing partnerships with private sector companies
On-site enrollments at Convention Centers and Trade Shows

8. TTAB SUBCOMMITTEES VISA FACILITATION Goals: Committee Action:
Review the requirements for acceptance to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and exceptions
Committee Action:
Looking into name change
Make the interview process for Non-VWP countries smoother
Increase offices and staff
Expand the interview waiver program, include a video interview program
Compare program with key markets
Get profiles from key markets
Research why key markets have high percentage of outbound travelers, but only a small percentage comes to the U.S.

9. VISA FACILITATION VISA WAIVER PROGRAM - REQUIREMENTS Country must…
Have enhanced law enforcement and security related to date sharing with the U.S.
Issue e-passports
Have a visitor (B) visa refusal rate of less than 3%
Have timely reporting of both blank and issued lost/stolen passports
Show maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards

10. Visa facilitation - expanded
VISA WAIVER PROGRAM - EXCEPTIONS
Even if from a Visa Waiver country, everyone who is a National or has visited the following countries since March 1, 2011:
Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Yeman
Citizens may still come to the U.S., but must proceed through standard visa process
To come to the U.S. from a Visa Waiver country, you must apply & receive the ESTO form

11. TTAB Subcommittees (continued)
KEY MARKET ENGAGEMENT
Goals:
To address barriers & opportunities for bi-lateral engagement with the governments of China & India
Committee Action:
Analysis of issues & market potential
2016 – U.S./China Year of Tourism
2017 – U.S./India Travel and Tourism Partner Countries

12. TTAB Subcommittees (Continued)
RESEARCH
Goals:
To address ways to improve the collection & dissemination of data
Committee Action:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to further expand the use of new technology in international arrivals process

13. Past recommendations to secretary of commerce
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON….
Visa Waiver Program
Brand USA Matching Funds Vetting Process
To stimulate Domestic Travel
Integrating Travel & Tourism into Infrastructure
Planning Advocate for & to Advanced Federal Effort in Support of Travel & Tourism Industry
Research
Restoring America’s Travel Brand: A National Strategy to Compete for International Visitors (2009)

14. Gary schluter – gary@rmhtours.com
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IS LISTENING AND REQUESTING YOUR INPUT! Please contact Gary Schluter or Mary Motsenbocker with comments and ideas.
Gary schluter –
Mary Motsenbocker –