Executive Order Encourages More Foreign Visitors

A new White House executive order puts pressure on federal agencies to encourage more foreign visitors. President Barack Obama is directing the Departments of State and Homeland security to approve 40 percent more visa applications from Chinese and Brazilian would-be visitors. In addition, they must expand the visa-waiver program and speed up approval of tourist visas for those visitors that still need them. Meanwhile, a task force lead by the departments of Commerce and the Interior will focus on boosting tourism and recreation jobs. Commerce also will launch a website with tourism-related federal stats. Obama announced the new tourism strategy in Orlando yesterday. Anti-immigration groups say the measures will weaken visa requirements.