Rex Johnson, president of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, told a U.S. Senate panel that it was "imperative that the United States implement its own public-private marketing campaign" to increase international travel to America.

Johnson and other state tourism officials said that stricter travel polices have, in part, caused the 17 percent drop in overseas travel to the United States since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

That drop has resulted in the loss of about $93 billion in economic activity and almost 200,000 jobs nationwide, according to travel and tourism groups. Visa expenses and difficulties in obtaining them, customs problems and little tourism promotion contributed to the drop, the groups said.

Johnson said a recent survey showed that international travelers believe that the United States has the "world's worst" entry process.

Hawai'i tourism means about $12 billion in annual visitor spending with international visitors contributing about $4 billion of the amount, Johnson said.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said that national security is paramount to protect the nation from terrorists.

However, he said, "some of the changes had the unintended consequence of deterring legitimate international travelers."