The United States' air travel system is currently under-equipped to manage the influx of millions of visitors anticipated for upcoming global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. A recent report by the U.S. Travel Association highlights significant concerns about the country's ability to accommodate an estimated 40 million visitors expected for these events, as well as for the 2025 Ryder Cup and America's 250th birthday. The report underscores urgent issues such as outdated infrastructure and lengthy visa processing times that may hinder visitor entry.
In preparation for these events, the U.S. Travel Association has recommended that the government form a White House-led taskforce to address these pressing challenges. Among the proposed solutions is the creation of an expedited visitor visa process to mitigate what Geoff Freeman, CEO and President of the U.S. Travel Association, describes as the "single biggest deterrent to visiting the United States." Currently, visa wait times can extend up to 700 days in countries like Colombia.
Freeman emphasized the need for decisive action, stating, "The status quo is not an option." The association has already engaged in discussions with White House officials to explore potential solutions. Key obstacles identified in the report include aging airport infrastructure, slow visa processing, and outdated security technology. These factors threaten to overwhelm the U.S. air travel system, especially during an expected 100-day peak travel period by 2028.
If unaddressed, these issues could result in a loss of millions of visitors and nearly $19 billion in spending over the next two years. The report suggests modernizing airport security by adopting advanced technologies such as biometrics to enhance efficiency and safety. This call to action follows the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) experience screening over 3 million passengers on several occasions in 2024, including during peak travel periods like the pre-Thanksgiving rush.
The report, crafted by former government officials and industry experts, aims to guide policy decisions and industry practices in anticipation of these major events. Freeman reiterated the importance of these initiatives, noting that "The president has been outspoken about making this the gold standard of World Cups, the best Olympics that has ever been held."
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