kabarsula US Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman warns government policies send wrong message bandar SLOT INDONESIA

US Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman has warned that visa delays, higher fees and expanded social media screening risk undermining the country’s ambitions to attract 100 million international visitors by 2030.

Speaking to Travel Weekly US, Freeman said US travel executives held more than an hour of discussions with President Donald Trump following a White House press conference earlier this month.

The meeting brought together executives from some of the country’s largest travel companies as the industry pushes to build on the momentum of the FIFA World Cup and reverse a decline in international visitation.

“We appreciate the president’s interest in learning more about what’s happening on the ground — and in the air — and we are eager to work together to make the U.S. the world’s most visited destination,” Freeman told Travel Weekly US.

International visitation to the US fell 5.5 per cent in 2025, from 72.3 million to 68.3 million. Growth is expected to remain relatively subdued this year.

Freeman said the World Cup had given the US an opportunity to turn international goodwill into longer-term tourism growth, but warned government policy needed to support that momentum.

“We should build on what’s working: Expanding the FIFA Pass concept for more events, speeding up visa processing and modernizing the arrival experience while eliminating barriers like lengthy visa wait times, higher visa fees, expanded social media screening and reduced investment in Brand USA,” he said.

“Those policies send the wrong message.”

Drop in visitors from Canada 

Freeman also pointed to the downturn in travel from Canada, saying the US travel industry was “paying a heavy price” from a 25 per cent decline in Canadian visitation.

“The sooner trade disputes can be resolved, the sooner we can strengthen our travel economy,” he said.

Freeman said rebuilding international demand was important beyond the inbound sector, with visitor numbers supporting airline routes and capacity in both directions.

“We can’t have a hollow airplane one way and keep the other side affordable,” he said.