Marriott CEO calls for better visa systems to U.S
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Speaking at a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City, Marriott International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J.W. Marriott, Jr said that while security is a priority, “we need to have a better visa and entry system, enabling an open exchange of people, ideas, services and products”.
He said that whenever an international visitor spends money, that transaction represents an export just as much as the sale of a good or commodity abroad.
Marriott said only 320,000 – less than one percent – of the more than 34 million Chinese who travelled abroad in 2006 came to the U.S. – in part because of a less-than-efficient visa process.
Marriott also asserted that Mexico would have had many more visitors from China if they had been able to get transit visas to travel through the United States to Mexico.
“Estimates are that 100 million Chinese will travel outside of their country in 2020. Both Mexico and the U.S. need to make sure that we get our share of those visitors. That’s why we need to get better visa and entry systems,” said Marriott.
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