More than 50 members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) gathered in Washington, D.C., on June 3¨C4, 2025, for the group¡¯s 13th annual Congressional Caucus. The two-day event gave members the chance to speak directly with lawmakers about important issues affecting the travel and tourism industry.
The delegation included both Active and Associate Members, who raised concerns about a wide range of topics, including visa and passport processing delays, funding for national parks, and continued support for Brand USA¡ªthe organization that markets the U.S. to international travelers?
¡°In the 13th year of the USTOA Congressional Caucus, our advocacy efforts felt more important than ever,¡± said USTOA President and CEO Terry Dale. ¡°The Congressional Caucus is a vitally critical forum to engage directly with lawmakers on topics that will ensure the continued success and resilience of our industry and lead us toward a more responsible tourism future.¡±
On the morning of June 4, participants heard updates on the ¡°state of the industry¡± from several of the sector¡¯s key figures, including Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA; Jennifer Aguinaga, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism; and Emily Douce of the National Parks Conservation Association.?
Guest speakers included Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the Presidential Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, who talked about efforts to improve visa processing ahead of the major event. U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY) also joined the group to share his perspective on some of the key challenges currently facing Congress.
In the afternoon, nine groups of USTOA members headed to Capitol Hill to meet with key lawmakers and talk through some of the industry¡¯s top priorities. Among the topics they raised were continued funding for Brand USA to promote U.S. travel abroad, support for the Air Traffic Control modernization plan, and concerns over how tariffs are affecting international and outbound travel. They also pushed for increased funding and staffing for the National Park Service, faster passport processing and efforts to reduce visa application backlogs.
Other issues brought to the table included the INVEST in Our Communities Act, which aims to help areas affected by a decline in Canadian visitors, and support for the DOT-Aviation Consumer Protection, along with expanding programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. Members also encouraged lawmakers to be flexible in enforcing new REAL ID requirements, with full compliance not expected until May 2027.
¡°USTOA remains committed to being an advocate for responsible tourism, and these meetings proved to be a highly effective platform to communicate that message to key lawmakers,¡± Dale remarked. ¡°We have learned that our collective voice does matter and can make a difference. The participation of our members and the members of Congress who took the time to engage in discussions on the issues that matter most to our industry is deeply appreciated.¡±?
The event began with a welcome dinner held at the residence of the Colombian Ambassador, with Daniel ?vila Camacho, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of Colombia, serving as host. Special guest Charlie Sykes, a frequent MSNBC contributor and former editor-in-chief of The Bulwark, spoke to the group about the importance of staying politically engaged, along with other timely topics.
Dale thanked all the sponsors of this year¡¯s USTOA Congressional Caucus on behalf of the association¡¯s members, with special appreciation for ProColombia, the Museum of the Bible for providing the meeting venue, Visit Anchorage and CCRA Travel Commerce Network.
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