United States Unveils New National Travel and Tourism Strategy

The United States Department of Commerce announced a new strategy aimed at boosting the international tourism industry following the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Commerce Department revealed the official National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which set goals to welcome 90 million international visitors by 2027 and achieve an estimated $279 billion in annual spending.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the government must do more to support the resurgence of travel and tourism, since "there are a lot of industries that are well past COVID - travel and tourism is not," according to Reuters.com.

Raimondo also wants travel to become "more resilient, sustainable and equitable."

In addition to setting international tourism goals, the government agency is looking to modernize and streamline entry procedures for international visitors and reduce COVID-related restrictions that make it complicated to visit.

The U.S. still requires incoming tourists to show proof of vaccination and nearly all international air passengers to test negative before travel, both of which have received pushback from airlines across America.

Raimondo said the testing protocols were acting as a "barrier" to the travel industry's recovery and she has been expressing that frustration to U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration.