A 17% drop in overseas travelers to the US since the September 11 attacks has cost the country more than $15 billion in lost taxes, a study shows.
The attack also cost nearly 200,000 jobs, it added.
“Our economic security is suffering from a drastic decline in overseas travelers and we are missing an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen America’s image around the globe,” said Stevan Porter, president of Intercontinental Hotels Group and chairman of the association’s Discover America Partnership. He added:
“We are in the midst of a travel crisis.”
In a survey ranking the most unfriendly countries last year, the US was ranked No. 1.
The study released by the Travel Industry Association said the US market share of the $6 trillion worldwide travel market had dropped to about 6.1% in 2006, from about 7.5% in 2000.
Report by David Wilkening
