US travel industry sees new Trump ban as less onerous
By Jerome Greer Chandler Tue Mar 7, 2017
The long-awaited re-make of U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban is not setting off fireworks the way the first version did, at least not among travel industry professionals.
In a prepared statement, U.S. Travel Association president Roger Dow said the Trump Administration deserved some credit “for the substantially more cautious and deliberate introduction of the revised executive order.”
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) agreed, calling the new executive order an improvement over the January 27 version.
That order was a haphazard effort, one that set off public demonstrations at airports across the United States.
GBTA executive director Michael W. McCormick believes the new order offers some clarity for travelers and government officials alike.
“The exemption for legal permanent residents, dual nationals and current visa holders will help mitigate confusion for the international traveling public,” he said.
Specifically, the revised order bans nationals from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen who don’t have valid visas from entering the U.S. for 90 days, effective March 16.
A fact sheet from the Trump Administration says that 90-day number is intended to review or establish standards aimed at preventing terrorists or criminals to enter this country.
Iraq is not one of the countries covered by the second order because the war-torn nation will be increasing cooperation with the U.S. when it comes to vetting its citizens applying for travel visas to the United States.
Nor does the new order apply to lawful permanent residents of the United States or those with a document that’s valid the date the ban takes effect (March 16).
Despite the better reviews this time around, U.S. Travel Association chief Dow questioned whether the revised order did enough to mollify prospective travelers from Canada, Europe or elsewhere around the world who may have been put off by the initial travel ban.
The jury on that is still very much out.
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