Inclusion of Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary will Strengthen America's Economy and Security, Improve Public Diplomacy
Washington, DC - The Travel Industry Association today praised the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its continued rapid expansion and strengthening of the Visa Waiver Program by signing memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the nations of Slovakia, Lithuania, and Hungary. Similar MOUs, which are first steps toward enabling their citizens to travel to the United States securely without a visa, were recently signed with the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia.
"We applaud DHS for their continued commitment to the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to include more of America's friends and allies will improve diplomatic efforts, infuse millions of dollars to the U.S. economy and help reverse the drastic decline in overseas travel to the United States," said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.
Estimates show that inclusion of these three countries in the Visa Waiver Program will result in 101,000 additional Slovakian, Lithuanian and Hungarian visitors to the United States and more than $361 million in spending over the next five years. In addition, the Department of State will be able to reallocate consular officials from these nations to countries with long visa interview wait times.
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