By AMY RIDENOUR

Photo credit: Getty/JEWEL SAMAD | President Barack Obama speaks at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to unveil a strategy to significantly boost tourism (Jan. 19, 2012).

President Barack Obama’s willingness to sacrifice national security to raise his public approval rating was glaringly evident when he flew to Disney World in mid-January to tout looser visa restrictions for Brazilian and Chinese visitors to the United States.

While the leaders of Brazil and China often take anti-U.S. positions on the world stage, Obama claimed the move would help the slumping travel industry by bringing millions of new free-spenders into the country without weakening national security.

Symbolically, the president made his announcement standing at the entrance to Fantasyland during the final stages of the Republican primary in Florida, a state where recent polls show him struggling badly after a narrow victory in 2008.

Obama also said he will expand the Bush-era Visa Waiver Program that eliminated rigorous in-person interviews that allowed officials at U.S. consulates to better determine if applicants pose genuine security risks.

That program was temporarily suspended after the 9/11 attacks over concerns that many of the terrorists were able to enter the U.S. because of its weak provisions.

Obama pooh-poohed such concerns at his pep rally in Disney World. “The more folks who visit the America, the more folks we get back to work; it’s that simple,” he said, claiming his administration can relax rules for foreign visitors while fully protecting America’s borders.

Yet recent actions by Brazil and China seem to undercut the president’s campaign-driven nonchalance.

Brazil increasingly is undercutting U.S. interests by restricting the free flow of U.S. goods and services into its markets, while damaging Florida’s citrus industry by sending huge amounts of orange juice into this country at cut-rate prices. Free trade, apparently, flows in one direction.

In recent years, its leftist governments have aligned themselves with Venezuela’s anti-American dictator Hugo Chavez and Iran’s crazed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. U.S. intelligence officials have issued recent warnings that Brazil is rapidly becoming a key base for al-Qaida and other Islamic jihadists in the Western Hemisphere. Brazil no longer considers Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist groups and disbanded its anti-terrorism force in 2009.

China, of course, has been conducting economic warfare against the United States for more than two decades — stealing our valuable military technology, manipulating its currency to increase artificially exports to the United States, hacking into our computer networks and engaging in an unprecedented naval buildup in the Pacific Ocean.

Given China’s economic aggressiveness, it’s difficult to see how allowing more Chinese visitors into this country would create any new American jobs. More likely it would result in the continuing exodus of well-paying manufacturing jobs to China.

Obama’s self-serving relaxation of security rules for hundreds of thousands of Brazilians and Chinese is cynical in the extreme — especially so when you consider the Government Accountability Office conceded last year that there still is no effective way to track the more than 70 million foreign visitors who annually come to these shores on tourist and other short-term visas. The GAO also has estimated that half of the nation’s estimated illegal aliens are people who have overstayed their visas.

Although the official unemployment rate has dipped below 9 percent, nearly 20 percent of Americans still are unemployed, underemployed or have given up looking for work.

Adding a few low-paying baggage handlers and amusement park employees won’t do much to lower those distressing numbers, but it did provide Obama with a beautiful photo opportunity in Fantasyland.

Amy Ridenour is chairman of the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research. Her email address is aridenour@nationalcenter.org. Distributed by MCT Information Services.

Far from leaving us with a hangover, the recent Chinese New Year party has given Australia a huge tourism boost.

Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) says thanks to Asian holidaymakers coming down under to celebrate the lunar new year, our international arrivals jumped 4.8 per cent in January.

Bureau of Statistics figures on overseas arrivals and departures, released on Tuesday, show a surge of 27.4 per cent from China with increases of 22 per cent from Hong Kong, 19 per cent from Taiwan and nearly 14 per cent from Indonesia.

TTF Chief Executive John Lee said arrivals from China have been growing strongly for some time.

“China represents a massive opportunity for us, which is why Tourism Australia is rightly focusing on lifting its presence in more Chinese cities,” Mr Lee said in a statement.

“Australia has enjoyed Approved Destination Status longer than all of our rivals, and Chinese visitation has risen on average 11 per cent per annum since 2001.”

Mr Lee said it is critical Australia keeps building on that momentum as our competitors are only too aware of China’s tourism potential and are making substantial investments to attract larger shares of the market.

“The most recent annual figures show more than one million Chinese travelled to the US, up 36.2 per cent on the previous year, compared to annual growth of 17.1 per cent to Australia.

“While smaller numbers of Chinese are travelling to the UK and Canada, they are also seeing faster growth than Australia, at 32.0 per cent and 24.4 per cent respectively,” he said.

Mr Lee said Tuesday’s figures clearly demonstrate the urgency of increasing support for Tourism Australia’s activities in China.

Outbound travel by Australians rose 4.7 per cent in January, with the annual growth slowing to 9.1 per cent.

Departures to Thailand rose 7000 (up 17.9 per cent), the US increased 5500 (up 11 per cent) and Vietnam 2700 (up 12.3 per cent).

The U.S. government says it expects travel on domestic airlines to nearly double over the next two decades.

A report from the Federal Aviation Administration says that over the long term, the industry will be “competitive and profitable,” as the demand for travel increases and fares rise slower than inflation.

In its annual economic analysis, the FAA predicts the U.S. air industry will grow from 731 million passengers in 2011 to 1.2 billion in 2032.

It forecasts that international travel on U.S. airlines will increase at around 4 percent a year. In Latin America, Brazil is expected to see the largest increase, with an average annual growth of 6.2 percent, while India, Taiwan and China are projected to see the biggest boost in the Asia-Pacific market.

An uptick in travel is projected beyond the U.S. air industry as well. The International Air Transport Association says it expects to see strong growth in the coming years in global aviation.

“Our estimate is that worldwide, there were about 2.84 billion passengers last year,” says the head of IATA’s corporate communications for the Americas, Perry Flint.

“We think that between now and 2015, we are going to see 700 million new passengers, and by 2050 we could be up to about 16 billion passengers a year,” he says.  “We think the outlook for aviation is very strong.”

He says Asia has surpassed North America as the largest air travel market.   He also notes that in the global airline industry, in real terms, average fares in 2010 have fallen 62 percent since 1970, 30 percent compared to 1990, and 7 percent compared to 2000.

The FAA expects the increased travel on U.S. carriers to continue the much-needed boost to the U.S. airline industry, which took dramatic hits after the 2001 terrorist attacks and in the country’s economic turmoil.

“U.S. airlines have returned to profitability in the last two years and we expect that trend will continue in 2012 as well,” said the agency’s acting administrator, Michael Huerta, in the report.

It says the increased travel underscores the need for implementation of a satellite-based air traffic control system, the Next Generation Air Transportation System, to replace the ground-based radar, making travel safer, quicker and with less impact to the environment.

However, the report warns that higher oil prices could “wipe out” industry profitability and lead to price increases. It also notes that a number of factors, including security and the pace of economic recovery, also could impact the industry.

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Mar 8, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) –
Avis Car Rental today announced the official opening of its newest car rental location in the People’s Republic of China. The new facility located in Jinan (Shandong Province) will open next month and brings the total number of Avis locations in China to 70, the most of any international car rental company.

“China has a rapidly growing domestic demand for vehicle rental services, and according to the World Tourism Organization, is on track to become the world’s foremost tourist destination in the coming years,” said Patric Siniscalchi, president, Latin America/Asia-Pacific, Avis Budget Group. “Demand for rental vehicles is high and growing and with the expansion of our already extensive network in China, we are delivering against one of our key strategic initiatives while ensuring that we are well-positioned to capture incremental volume and revenue within this fast-growing travel market.”

In 2011, the revenues of Avis’ 50 percent-owned joint venture in China grew 17 percent, to approximately $90 million. The Company expects to open an additional 40-50 jointly-owned rental facilities across China in 2012.

Avis is the leading international car rental company in China, operating at 70 locations in more than 35 cities, including Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shenzhen Baoan International Airport. Travelers in China benefit from Avis’ world-renowned ‘We try harder’ service, Avis Preferred, the Company’s express rental service, premium chauffeur service, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices, vehicle damage coverage and personal property protection packages, and vehicle leasing services.

Avis provides travelers in China with a wide range of well-maintained, late-model vehicles, including the compact Volkswagen Gol, the Buick GL8 minivan and the Ford MiniBus for large groups. Luxury vehicles such as the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series are also available for rent.

“The opening of this newest location illustrates our commitment to serve the growing China market and bring Avis’ premium service to visitors as well as residents in need of temporary transportation,” said Xavier Gernaey, general manager, Avis Asia Pacific. “Visitors to China will appreciate the benefits of renting from a trusted brand, whether they are traveling for business or leisure.”

Avis China is operated through a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, one of the largest car manufacturers in China, and was the first joint venture car rental company in the country. In addition, Avis was recently recognized as “Asia’s Leading Car Hire” at the World Travel Awards, chosen by more than 200,000 travel professionals in 160 countries. Avis has held the title for six consecutive years.

About Avis

Avis Car Rental operates one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,100 locations in more than 165 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty. Avis is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. 

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s decision to speed-up visa processing for low-risk Chinese and Brazilian travelers will give the recovering U.S. economy a welcome jolt of new energy this summer and beyond.

The president’s executive order, which he announced at Disney World earlier this year, is projected to create 1.3 million jobs and produce more than $860 billion in economic activity.

The first wave of new Chinese and Brazilian business and leisure travelers could come early this summer, given the demand at the five U.S. consulates in China and the four in Brazil.

The president also would eliminate the need for citizens from Taiwan to obtain a visa – a privilege already afforded to travelers from Australia, Japan, South Korea and 33 other American allies.

From 2000 to 2010, the U.S. experienced a lost decade when it came to attracting international visitors to our country. The United States issued 7.6 million visas in 2001 but only 5.8 million in 2009. That number grew to 6.4 million in 2010 but is still lower than it was 10 years ago. The president’s new initiative to spur job creation by welcoming more global travelers to our country can help put the United States back on top as the world’s No. 1 destination.

The United States has long been a favored vacation spot for Brazil’s growing middle-class, but long lines and lengthy waits can act as a detriment that persuades many to flock to nearby Caribbean islands or pay more to go to Europe. That said, the number of travelers from such full-throttle economies as Brazil, China and India is expected to grow by 274 percent, 135 percent and 50 percent respectively over the next four years. Faster visa processing will help ensure that many of those travelers will come to America.

Additionally, President Obama’s decision to make permanent the Global Entry Program will also encourage more visitors to come to the United States. The program makes the customs process more efficient for travelers who pass rigorous advance background checks.

Americans should rest assured that speeding up our tourist turnstiles does not mean relaxing post-9/11 security measures. The fact is that our surveillance and security systems, and the technology that buttresses them, have become increasingly sophisticated over the last decade. Making the entry process more efficient for highly trusted travelers allows our nation’s security force to concentrate on more likely suspects and expands its overall effectiveness.

In short, the president’s moves should be hailed as a smart new national strategy that will increase travel not only to America’s many attractions, but also to commercial events like trade shows and business conferences.

As President Obama noted in Orlando, the new proposals mean that “America is open for business” once again – a strong measure that can help jumpstart our economic recovery in 2012.

Considering their economic impact, international travelers – in increasing numbers – are about to become some of America’s best friends in 2012.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Roger Dow is president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. Readers may write to him at the U.S. Travel Association, 1100 New York Avenue NW, Suite 450, Washington, D.C. 20005.

This essay is available to McClatchy-Tribune News Service subscribers. McClatchy-Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of McClatchy-Tribune or its editors.

2012, U.S. Travel Association

BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) — Shennongjia, a forest region and long rumored home of the elusive Bigfoot-like ape man in the central province of Hubei, wants eco-tourism there to boost the underdeveloped region’s economy.

Less than two months after the Shennongjia Nature Reserve was named a national 5A-Class Scenic Spot by the National Tourism Administration, the region has teamed up with Beijing, seeking the Chinese capital’s help to develop its tourism.

The Shennongjia Forest Region and Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development signed an agreement earlier this week, according to which Beijing will help Shennongjia promote tourism.

Travel agencies in Beijing will launch several “Beijing + Shennongjia” tour programs, said Qian Yuankun, Party chief of the forest region.

Beijing has also agreed to provide training for tourism professionals in the poor region, Qian said.

Beijing may also send chartered flights or trains to Shennongjia during peak seasons as getting to the mountainous region sometimes is challenging, said Qu Hao, an official with the state-owned Shennong Tourism Company.

Qian is expecting an eco-tourism boom in the coming years with Shennongjia’s first airport expected to be completed next year.

Meanwhile, its new title of national 5A-Class Scenic Spot, the country’s highest official ranking of scenery spot which means both charming sceneries and high-quality services, will draw more tourists, according to Qian.

Located deep in the remote mountains in Hubei, Shennongjia Nature Reserve has long been rumored to be the home of the elusive creature known in China as the “Yeren,” or “Wildman” in English. It is also referred to as “Bigfoot” after the legendary North American ape-man.

More than 400 people have claimed sighting Bigfoot in the Shennongjia area since last century, but no hard evidence has been found to prove the creatures’ existence.

The region is also dubbed “Noah’s Arc” for animals and plants in the glacial period, as it provided shelter for animals and plants from glacier activities that were prevalent elsewhere during the Quaternary Period some 2.5 million years ago. It has preserved an array of plants that existed in the Tertiary Period and is widely called a home of living plant fossils.

With abundant rain and water resources and a middle-latitude location, Shennongjia is home to more than 3,700 species of plants and at least 1,050 kinds of animals. At least 40 plant species and 70 animal species are under key state protection.

The place is also home to the rare golden monkeys, which are on the verge of extinction and were first spotted in Shennongjia in the 1960s.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) put Shennongjia on its World Network of Biosphere Reserves list in 1990.

Berlin, March 8 (IANS) China’s picturesque Hangzhou city has showcased its beautiful landscapes and cultural charm at an international travel expo here in a bid to attract more European visitors.

Hangzhou’s Vice Mayor Zhang Jianting has appealed to tourist officials and travel agents to better appreciate the city, dubbed “a paradise on earth”.

China’s participation at the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) March 7-11, the world’s leading travel and trade show, coincides with the 2012 Chinese Cultural Year in Germany, Xinhua reported.

Hangzhou not only aims to bolster the city’s image but also to enhance links and partnership with Germany and Europe, Zhang said.

The eastern city of Hangzhou was listed among the world’s top 41 tourist destination by The New York Times last year. It boasts the beautiful West Lake, the Xixi wetlands, the Grand Canal and folklore, among other attractions.

The city has been hailed as the “Capital of Leisure” by the World’s Leisure Organization, in addition to the title of “China’s Best Tour City” conferred by the World’s Tourism Organization, said Zhang.

He added that the city received over three million foreign tourists and 70 million domestic visitors in 2011.

©Indo-Asian News Service

CHINA won’t provide the magic elixir for the Sunshine Coast tourism industry.

This is the view of tourism operators Gary Mackenzie and Anne Fredericks.

Mr Mackenzie, who owns the Gold and Sunshine Coast based Dreamtime Resorts, was concerned about the State Government’s $50 million planned spend to lure the Chinese market to Queensland.

He said while the Chinese market could be lucrative, it shouldn’t be the sole focus of the tourism strategy.

Ms Fredericks, who runs King’s Beach Rolling Surf Resort, agreed.

She said the Sunshine Coast’s “bread-and-butter” was the drive industry – tourists visiting from places nearby like Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba.

Mr McKenzie said many of the smaller Sunshine Coast tourism operators wouldn’t even see the Chinese tourists.

“The heart of tourism industry is and always will be the serviced apartment, motel and camping ground operators – the people who cater to mum, dad and the kids who have always been our bread and butter business,” he said.

Their concerns about the China focus comes just days after representatives from the region’s peak tourism body, Sunshine Coast Destination Limited, returned from its first trip to China.

CEO Steve Cooper said: “We hope to leverage off the niche opportunities around golf and our natural attributes.”