Congressman Farr seeks to attract international visitors

According to Voice of America News:

Two U.S. Congressmen have introduced legislation aimed at improving America’s image abroad by promoting international tourism to the United States. The bill would establish a competitive $50 million grant to boost international business and leisure travel to America from five target countries. As VOA’s Cindy Saine reports from Washington, the program will also seek to give foreign tourists a friendlier welcome at U.S. airports and other entry points.

At a news conference on Capitol Hill, Congressman Sam Farr, a Democrat representing California’s scenic central coast, summed up how fewer foreign tourists are coming to America. “International travelers aren’t coming to America and figures show it,” said Sam Farr. “The U.S. has experienced a 17- percent decline in overseas visitors since September 11, 2001.”

Congressman Farr says he believes Americans are among the friendliest, most helpful and most accepting people in the world. But he thinks the current “fortress America” image comes from a combination of factors. “Kids have access to Ipods and media, they’ve just seen America as a very violent country, they’re afraid to come here,” he said. “Frequent travelers find that when they come now they get hassled and it’s uncomfortable for them, they are distinguished people.”

The co-sponsor of the tourism bill, Representative Jon Porter, says the U.S. should be secure and welcoming at the same time. “The problem is that right now there is this perception that we’re not as friendly as we really are,” said Jon Porter. “And because of our emphasis on security, homeland security, I think that the pendulum has swung too far, and that is how we are treating our visitors.”