[2ndDivisionVet]

This is the same congress that can't build a fence to keep illegals and terrorists out of our country.

[CindyDawg]

More people everywhere seem to be staying home. I’m ok with that.

[Spruce]

Tourism = down.
Congress’s solution: increase the size of the government.
Brilliant.

[petertare]

Well there will be no fence. Just massive help for illegals both in and out of this country. We need a lot more illegal Mexican visitors, and this new government agency will guide them along the way.

[ronnie raygun]

I have in idea, lets get all the progressive, liberal, socialist, un American commies and their lackey GOP helpers on one stage and hand out rotten fruits and veggies to toss at them. I would think the only problem would be that the tourist would have to stand in line to wait until we Americans are thru with them!

[353FMG]

“..to promote the United States as a tourist destination..”

Al-Qaeda loves the idea. If we don’t even give our immigrants security checks, how can we expect tourists to undergo this scrutiny? How can we make sure that tourists do not overstay their time limit in the country?

[kinoxi]

European papers are "filled with horror stories about why you don't want to come to the U.S."

I'm sure they are. The lack of cameras scares some even though the crime rate is lower. I've seen the scared, delusional, tourists from across the pond and it's sad. Some from the UK are conditioned to the point to where NOT being in site of a camera frightens them.

[SideoutFred]

"The United States has lost billions of dollars and an immeasurable amount of good will since Sept. 11, 2001"

Yeah, no bias in that remark. / sarcasm off

[Cheburashka]

Oh great, just what we need, more foreigners.

[puppypusher]

Yes I would love to have more tourist coming from the thired world.Espechialy Islamic tourist who’ll be coming to do what they do best./Sarcasm

[JoeGar]

If Congress really wanted to increase tourism it would 1) fire every TSA employee, and 2) let airlines handle security. At least the airlines would treat passengers with decency. (I’d rather have a root canal than go through TSA’s airport screening.)

[xJones]

Visits from the six countries that provide the most tourists — Britain, Japan, Germany, France, South Korea and Australia — have dropped 15 percent since 2000

But the good news is that our 'tourism' from Mexico is at an all time high.

[jmax]

Congress could fix tourism in a heart beat, by creating a N-E-W Seventh Wonder of the World. All they would have to do would be to STAY IN SESSION for a WHOLE month, without one and two week shutdowns for recesses for one-day holidays like 4th of July, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Presidents Day, etc. The whole country would flock to Washington, DC, and just stand out in the Mall staring in amazement and awe, not believing something like that could ever happen. People would be clinching each other with tears rolling down their cheeks. It would be like the Second Coming.

[gcruse]

“nonprofit public-private corporation’

Groan. You don’t need profits when the taxpayer gets stuck with the bill.

[Forgotten Amendments]

I feel like a tourist in this socialist pit already. I grew up near DC. Last time I was there, it felt like East Berlin. And that is without going NEAR an airport.

[Dundee]

I’m in the process of saving for a trip to the US (I’d like to do a 2 or 3 month driving holiday which wouldn’t be cheap). I my eyes the US has lost none of its allure.

[onedoug]

Note to the Senate: WE’RE IN A WAR!

[IslandJeff]

What’s in this measure for Byron Dorgan? ND isn’t exactly Las Vegas or Miami.

[IslandJeff]

What’s in this measure for Byron Dorgan? ND isn’t exactly Las Vegas or Miami.

[Drew68]

"Unfortunately the first three hours" — trying to get through customs — "is creating a poor impression and becoming a great barrier to coming,"

Not to mention the several months they spent trying to get a tourist visa in the first place --along with the endless documents, paperwork, forms, examinations and on and on they had to subject themselves to.

But hey, we'll throw student visas to anyone named Mohammad and hand out refugee visas to any illiterate third-worlder who can find a way over.

[Buffettfan]

Tourism is declining because people buy a one way ticket to come here and visit and then never leave knowing that the stupid Americans will never check to see if they have left when their visa expires. One way tourist visit = new illegal immigrant sucking the system dry.