Airport security stifling foreign tourism, officials say
By Ian Stewart
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Travel executives say the nation's $91 billion foreign tourism industry is in peril because of a growing perception overseas that the United States has become "Fortress America."
In the year after the terrorist attacks, 66 million fewer visitors tried to enter the United States, according to Immigration and Naturalization Service figures. And those who did try were sent back home at a higher rate than the year before.
Travel-industry executives complain that the post-Sept. 11 security crackdown at airports — especially some widely publicized incidents in which visitors were searched, interrogated and put on a plane back home — has discouraged tourism.
"There is an impression being made that we are creating a Fortress America," said Rick Webster, a spokesman for the Travel Industry Association of America.
INS officials recognize the concerns but say their first priority is to secure all borders.
"We're not trying to discourage foreign tourists, but they need to make sure their documents are in good standing," said INS spokesman Francisco Arcaute in Los Angeles. "After 9/11, we have to look into any possible visa problem."
Travel to the United States was down 17 percent in the first six months of 2001, and more than 345,000 tourism-related jobs have been lost since the attacks, about a third of which served foreign tourists, according to the travel industry group.
INS figures show 700,807 people were denied entry between September 2000 and September 2001 at airports, borders and ports — one of every 714 trying to enter. During the 12 months after the attacks, 733,440 visitors, or one of every 625 people, were turned away.
The visitors include students, refugees and vacationers, many of whom spent considerable amounts of money to reach the United States.
"I'd like to think the increased security measures have been used wisely, but I think a lot of mistakes have been made and there has been a lot of overkill," said Robert Logan, chief pilot at Air Grand Canyon of Tucson, Ariz., which has reduced flights and is using fewer pilots.
At some airports, INS inspectors have become so strict about paperwork problems that they are turning away thousands more tourists.
Immigration lawyer Brenda Boudreaux of San Francisco said problems arise when inspectors follow the letter of the law so closely that they treat tourists like criminals over minor paperwork problems.
"There is a definite need to be more cautious, but some inspectors are just being unreasonable with innocent people who not only have a legal right to be here, but who are needed here," Boudreaux said.
