U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation today to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make permanent the visa waiver program for certain visitors to the United States. The program allows citizens of a participating country to forego visa application at a U.S. consulate abroad and allows them to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure and make application for entry directly to the INS at a port of entry.

In the ten years since the implementation of the visa waiver program, international visitors from 26 participating countries have abided by the program's requirements and use it routinely. The program has effectively served the purpose for which it was designed, to facilitate the efficient flow of low-risk foreign tourists and business travelers. Simultaneously, the program has afforded Department of State consular officers more time to focus efforts on individuals who visit the U.S. for other purposes, such as employment or study, or those who intend to remain in the U.S. for extended periods.

"I can say without reservation that this program is a resounding success," Akaka said. "It has bolstered the U.S. economy through the expedited admission of millions of legitimate short-term visitors. In Hawaii, tourism is an $11 billion industry responsible for about one-quarter of Hawaii's tax revenue and one-third of our jobs. We know that the visa waiver program has been a success because it greatly increased the amount of Japanese visitors to Hawaii in the last ten years."

In 1996, the World Tourism Organization reported that the United States was the second most popular international tourist destination and the number one location for tourism expenditures. International tourism in the U.S. is a $65 billion enterprise which boosts the economies of many local communities. Of the 44.8 million arrivals that year, 12.4 million entered under the visa waiver program. Operating under a two-year extension, authorization for the program will expire in April 2000.

"Put simply, the U.S. needs this program to remain competitive with the many other nations around the globe who are competing for the finite pool of business travelers and tourists," Akaka noted. "Its unqualified success justifies a permanent program."