WASHINGTON (February 9, 2023)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the U.S. House passage of H.R. 185, a bill to immediately end the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirement for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for international visitors to the United States:
“The need for this requirement has long since passed, and we appreciate the bipartisan action by the U.S. House to end this outdated policy. U.S. Travel also sees no reason to uphold the requirement until May—particularly as visitors from around the world plan spring and summer travel. The U.S. is the only country that has maintained this policy, putting at risk valuable visitor spending the longer it remains in place.
“We thank the bill’s sponsors for their efforts and urge the Senate to pass this bill to normalize travel conditions and boost international arrivals as quickly as possible.”
