TOURISM & TRAVEL
Attracting more foreign tourists
Beth Kassab and Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted February 5, 2007
A partnership of national tourism leaders released last week a long-term plan to rejuvenate travel to the U.S. by international tourists.
The strategy known as "A Blueprint to Discover America" contains three major recommendations:
Overhaul the country's visa system. The plan calls for visa applications to be processed within 30 days and suggests ways of making the process easier on applicants such as videoconferencing for interviews and mobile consulate operations.
Modernize ports of entry. The plan calls for visitors to be processed within 30 minutes by hiring 250 new customs and immigration officers as well as implementing enhanced line management and more technology in the busiest airports.
Change perceptions about America overseas through a public-private partnership.
Stemming from an ongoing effort to boost international travel by industry leaders, the plan is being pushed forward by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo.
"We can implement the plan for about $300 million a year," said Rasulo, also chairman of the Travel Industry Association of America. "That's a very low investment considering the high returns we'll generate: billions of dollars added to the economy and tax revenues, and hundreds of thousands of new jobs."
Overseas travel to the U.S. is down 17 percent since 2001.
However, through November, international travel to the U.S. in 2006 was up about 6 percent over 2005.
Really big show
Orlando this week will welcome its largest convention to town, the International Home Builders' Show.
The show is expecting 105,000 people to spread out over 1.8 million square feet in the Orange County Convention Center.
During the four days of the show scheduled to begin Wednesday, attendees will pump a projected $147 million into local businesses.
Pit stop for Pooh, Indy ride
The Magic Kingdom's Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway join the list of Walt Disney World rides and attractions closed this week for refurbishment.
Both will reopen next week.
They join the Wonders of Life Pavilion and the El Rio del Tiempo attraction at Epcot, which closed last month.
El Rio del Tiempo is being refurbished and reworked to add the three main characters from the Three Caballeros films of the 1940s, Donald Duck, Jose Carioca the parrot and Panchito the Mexican charro rooster, Disney officials said.
Shuttle to Disney World
TransFloridian, an Orlando-based luxury shuttle company, is now offering transportation between South Florida and Walt Disney World.
The company is hoping travelers will want to give up driving themselves in favor of a ride on a 14-seat motorcoach with all-leather recliners and two feet of leg room.
Packages start at $299. For more information go to TransFloridian.com/disney or call 1-877-2GO-4SUN (246-4786).
Beth Kassab can be reached at
bkassab@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5448. Scott Powers can be reached at 407-420-5441 or
spowers@orlandosentinel.com.
