The travel and tourism industry is one of the US's leading service sectors and sources of exports.
However, the US market share of spending by international travelers fell from 17% to 11% of the global market from 2000 to 2010, more than a 30% decrease of its share of the global market.
This decrease was primarily due to increased international competition, changing patter
ns in global development, and, to some degree, more stringent security requirements imposed after 2001.
Given
the importance of the travel and tourism industry to the US economy and job creation the government has taken several initiatives in the recent past.
Steady progress has been made since 2010, when the government launched the National Export Initiative and the
Travel Promotion Act was signed into law
.
The Act calls for a $10 fee for completing the necessary ESTA (Electronic System for Travel
Authorization) authorization for citizens of visa waiver countries to enter the US
.
The fee up to certain limits will go to fund US tourism marketing