US tourism industry leaders and top government officials on Tuesday urged collaboration between the public and private sectors to stem shrinking US market share of international visitors. Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), told travel industry leaders at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit held in Washington that government is attempting to balance strong security with welcoming foreign tourists. Story continues below ↓ advertisement ‘We want to have a system that is secure and safe but welcoming to travel across the world,’ said Sec Chertoff. ‘Americans lose when we put up walls and keep people out.’ Business leaders have voiced deep concerns over a decline in international visitors due partly to more bureaucratic US visa policies and a battered image overseas September 11, 2001. US market share of international tourism is at an all-time low, dropping 35 per cent between 1992 and 2004, which translates into $286bn in lost revenue, according to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). ‘We are using technology to reduce delays to legitimate travellers while raising the bar to keep out those who are not,’ said Sec Chertoff. ‘Pilot programmes already running demonstrate that it is […]