The U.S. Travel Association today launched “Traveler’s Voice” (www.travelersvoice.org) to help deliver appeals from travelers to improve the U.S. entry process. The website features video messages from international travelers immediately following their exit from immigration and customs checkpoints. Travelers report long wait times and delays caused by insufficient staffing and urge “those with the authority to enact change” to invest in additional officers to assist in processing inbound travelers.

“The message could not be more clear. Our international guests think actions like increasing the number of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials would improve and speed the entry process,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “International travelers visit our country to conduct business, experience our destinations and sites and, most importantly, contribute billions of dollars to our economy. It is deeply concerning that due to a lack of adequate resources our entry procedure is viewed as frustrating and slow by valued international travelers. U.S. Travel is committed to ensuring that Congress hears their voices, alongside those of domestic travelers and American businesses, and gives CBP the resources they need to support a world-class entry system.”

Traveler’s Voice spotlights interviews with international travelers over the past four weeks at airports immediately following the entry process. Travelers were complimentary of CBP officers, but concerned by the lack of available staffing to quickly process visitors.