Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, June 14, 2012
State Dept. Video: 'Visit America: It's Easier than You Think'
By Selected News Articles @ 1:11 PM :: 10713 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics, World News, Family

State Dept. Video: 'Visit America: It's Easier than You Think'

Says visa process is now smoother.

by Daniel Halper, Weekly Standard June 13, 2012

A new video released by the State Department is trying to encourage tourists from around the world to visit America.

"Visit America," a caption reads. "It's easier than you think." As tranquil music plays in the background, scenes of American landmarks are displayed onscreen. Another caption states, "Discover America. More than 65 million visitors do each year."

The only voice in the video is that of President Obama. "We've got the best product to sell," Obama says in a clip taken from a January speech at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. "We've got the most entertaining destinations in the world."

A State Department slogan of sorts later flashes on screen, "Department of State: Promoting Security, Welcoming the World."

The video appears to be a response to an ABC report from October that chronicled how the State Department's slow visa process resulted in $606 billion loss over the last decade.

"All around the world, in Brazil, India and China, the fast-growing middle classes look to travel to the U.S., but only 13 percent actually come here, according to the U.S. Travel Association – some say, because it's so difficult to get a visa. Thirty-eight percent travel to Europe instead because it's easier," ABC reported.

"In the last decade, the U.S. lost out on 78 million overseas visitors -- that's $606 billion in spending -- in stores, malls, tourist destinations right here in America. Enough to add nearly half a million jobs every year. The State Department told ABC News that safety and security comes first, but acknowledged they're working on the problem."

Over a half a year later, the State Department now appears to be claiming to have fixed the problem.

"We are investing more resources for a more efficient visa process," a caption in the State Department video claims.

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT