IITA Advocacy
We are small, but mighty! That’s our motto when it comes to advocacy. IITA carries the inbound operators’ collective voice to DC – or wherever we need to be – to weigh in on issues that will increase international inbound travel and ensure international visitors have quality service and experiences while in the United States. Our advocacy serves to support the health and success of inbound operators and the international inbound travel sector, including entry and border issues like visa processing, national parks access and funding, Brand USA, and small business needs.
Through our contacts within federal agencies, congressional offices and industry leadership, we weigh in on issues and policies that affect inbound travel. We meet periodically with the U.S. Department of State about visa processing; the National Park Service on how CUAs (Commercial Use Authorization permits), reservation systems, infrastructure and policy decisions impact tour operators and international visitors; and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Travel and Tourism Office on the significant impact of inbound travel to the nation's economy and how IITA's work dovetails with the National Travel and Tourism Strategy to support the national goals
IITA is a long-time sponsor of Destination Capitol Hill, the travel industry’s annual grassroots legislative event in Washington, DC. The IITA delegation meets with congressional leaders of the House and Senate Travel and Tourism Caucuses and subcommittees on travel/tourism and national park matters, as well as Administration officials at the Departments of Commerce, State, Homeland Security, and the Interior.
IITA Testifies Before Congressional Subcommittee on Inbound Tourism
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, IITA testified before a Congressional Subcommittee on the state of inbound travel—an important step in examining how current policies impact tourism.
CEO/Executive Director Lisa Simon presented IITA’s testimony, highlighting key challenges affecting travelers’ decisions to visit the U.S., including tightened border and immigration enforcement, higher entry fees and rising costs, and funding cuts to Brand USA. She also recommended opposing the proposed Visa Integrity Fee and the National Parks international visitor fee, and fully funding Brand USA to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in the global travel market. See Lisa in action at the hearing.
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IITA works closely with National Park Service leaders to provide industry input into decisions affecting tour operators, like road-based commercial tour (RBCT) CUA permits and reservations/ timed entry. |
Brand USA is the public-private partnership that leads a globally coordinated marketing effort to promote the USA as a premier travel destination. IITA inbound operators are listed in its travel trade directory and designated with the IITA logo. |
The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) works to enhance the international competitiveness of the U.S. travel and tourism industry and increase its exports through travel & tourism research, policy and export promotion. |
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The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs and their team meet periodically with IITA for intel on visa issues in various markets and provide updates on visa processing issues. |
The U.S. Commercial Service is a global network of experienced trade professionals throughout the USA and in U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide. The USCS travel and tourism team will help achieve market success. |
U.S. Travel's IPW trade show showcases U.S. inbound operators, suppliers of USA travel products and destinations to international and domestic travel buyers and journalists from around the world.
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