Over the past decade, the U.S. economy has missed an unprecedented global travel boom because of visa delays and other bureaucratic policies that discourage visitors to our shores. Our research shows that between 2000 and 2010 America’s share as a destination of the long-haul travel market slipped to 12% from 17%. That adds up to a lost decade for American travel with 467,000 lost jobs, $606 billion in lost spending by visitors, and $37 billion in lost tax revenue.

During a time of high unemployment and rising deficits, the U.S. cannot afford to continue down this path. International travelers represent the most lucrative segment of the fiercely competitive global travel market. For every international traveler who visits the U.S., our hotels, restaurants, retailers and other businesses rack up an average of $4,000 in sales. By recapturing our previous 17% share of the market, America could realize $859 billion in economic stimulus and create 1.3 million new jobs by 2020 at no cost to American taxpayers.

The question is not whether more international travelers are willing to bring their money to the U.S., but whether our government will let them. Important safeguards have been instituted after 9/11, such as in-person interviews with consular […]