Efforts to Improve Reception of Foreign Visitors at U.S. Airports

GAO discussed the reception of foreign visitors at U.S. airports, focusing on federal agencies' implementation of recommendations for improving facilities and services for foreign air arrivals. GAO noted that: (1) the Department of Commerce's U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration reported that foreign visitors to the United States generated revenues of $51.1 billion in 1990; (2) foreign travelers to the U.S. generated $5.5 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues and directly supported an estimated 850,000 U.S. jobs; (3) Commerce is working with two interagency groups to speed the clearance process for arriving international air passengers; (4) the U.S. Customs Service could reinstate the U.S. citizens bypass system if international airlines would expand their participation in the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS); (5) Commerce stated that it will expand the Gateway Receptionist Program if it receives additional appropriations; and (6) the National Transportation Facilitation Committee (NTFC) is designing a comprehensive model plan for providing high-quality airport services and facilities for foreign visitors. GAO believes that: (1) there is little incentive for airlines to participate in APIS to speed the federal inspection process if the Immigration and Naturalization Service continues to use the Accelerated Citizen Examination; and (2) NTFC is the appropriate body for developing model guidelines and trying to resolve foreign visitor facilitation problems.