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THE OBAMA administration wants to become more flexible in providing tourism visas, in a way that will not compromise border security. Encouraging more international travelers to visit the United States could boost the tourism business, and that could be a boon for Pennsylvania.
Although President Barack Obama displayed the new initiative last month at Walt Disney World, its emphasis is not limited to theme parks. Emphasizing natural treasures, as well as human-made amusements, can help create a greater sense of national and regional pride. In this state, an infusion of cash from foreign travelers could find its way to destinations such as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Lake Erie and elsewhere.
The administration predicts Brazilians’ appetite for foreign travel will nearly quadruple by 2016. For China, it’s 135 percent; for India, 50 percent.
For Great Lakes states to get their share, business and government officials must seize the opportunity and develop what former Youngstown, Ohio, Mayor Jay Williams calls a “unified vision.” He heads a unit in the U.S. Labor Department that helps struggling communities diversify their economies.
Expanding tourism in Pennsylvania will take not only “unified vision,” but unified action.