‘Embarrassing’ Visa Delays and Old Airports – What U.S. Travel Needs to Fix

Long wait times for visas and an outdated air infrastructure hobble the U.S.'s ability to attract travelers, said executives at the Skift Global Forum.

Global destinations like New York City are facing serious competition from destinations like Saudi Arabia that have been upgrading their tourist infrastructure and spending more on tourism promotion, said NYC Tourism+Conventions CEO and President Fred Dixon.

“As countries roll out more welcoming policies, easier access, these are going to be challenges to markets like New York that have long been successful and dominant in this space,” said Dixon.

This year, long visa wait times in China, India, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico