American Airlines is applauding a move by the Obama Administration to increase travel and tourism to the U.S.
President Barack Obama traveled to Disney World to officially announce that he is signing the Visa Waiver Program, aimed at speeding up the distribution of non-immigrant visas from emerging markets.
Tom Horton, chairman and chief operating officer of American Airlines, said the new initiative will benefit the entire travel and tourism industry.
"We have long advocated for enhancements to the distribution of non-immigrant visas in such important emerging markets as Brazil and China and have told the Administration that improving the process will not only allow more tourists to visit but create travel and tourism jobs in the United States," Horton added.
Meanwhile, a study co-sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association has found that a new proposal in Texas may help enhance tourism in the state.
The Houston Chronicle reports that the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area plan, which would allow tourist destinations within a four-county area to share resources and federal money, would triple tourism in the Houston area and create 1,200 new jobs in the first year.