WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama wants more tourists to visit the United States and spend their hard-earned cash, whether at the slot machines in Vegas, the beaches of Miami, the vineyards of California, or the pizza parlors of New Haven.
Obama on Friday will take a step toward that invitation with a report titled, “Supporting Travel and Tourism to Grow Our Economy and Create More Jobs.” The report will outline executive actions at 17 of the nation’s largest airports with the goal of convincing the world that coming to America isn’t a cumbersome experience.
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In 2012, the president issued the “National Travel and Tourism Strategy,” with the goal of seeing 100 million international tourists come to America annually by 2021, spending an estimated $250 billion.
The country is well on the way to the goal. In 2014, an estimated 74 million international visitors came to America, spending a record $222 billion on food, lodging, recreation, gifts and other expenses. That money supported an estimated 1.1 million jobs, according to administration officials.
