USTOA Members Advocate for the Tourism Industry in DC

This June marked year 13 of USTOA’s Congressional Caucus, and our advocacy efforts felt more critical than ever. More than 50 delegates comprised of tour operator Active Members and Associate Members from around the country descended on Washington, D.C. to advocate for issues facing the tourism and travel industry. Advocacy has always been a major pillar of USTOA as we view it as our duty to work toward a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry to protect the future of travel.

Some of the issues discussed include promoting Brand USA, U.S-Canada travel, the impact of tariffs on international and outbound U.S. travel, urging Congress to fund the administration’s Air Traffic Control modernization plan, supporting National Parks with sufficient funds and staffing, and encouraging expedited visa processing and backlog reduction as well as improvement in passport application delays. We were able to engage directly with Congress on these vital topics to ensure the continued success and resilience of our industry.

The morning was filled with informative presentations on the “state of the industry” from Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA; Jennifer Aguinaga, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism and Director, National Travel and Tourism Office; and Emily Douce, Deputy Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association. Guest speakers included Andrew Guiliani, executive director of the Presidential Task Force for 2026 FIFA World Cup, who spoke about initiatives to improve visa wait times and approval as the US is set to host this international event, and US Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY), who provided insights into the top issues facing Congress.

The caucus also included discussions on the INVEST in our Communities Act which aims to boost tourism infrastructure, workforce development, and economic resilience; supporting the DOT-Aviation Consumer Protection that offers clearer refund rules and transparency in travel sales without placing unfair burdens on tour operators; and supporting travel infrastructure including the backing expansion of TSA Pre-check and Global Entry as well as phased enforcement and flexibility for REAL ID until full compliance on May 7, 2027.

I deeply appreciate the participation of our members and the members of Congress who took the time to engage on the issues that matter most to our industry. USTOA remains committed to being an advocate for responsible tourism, and these meetings continue to prove to be highly effective in communicating that message to key lawmakers.