Visa Delays Could Cost U.S. an Estimated 6.6 Million Visitors in 2023 and $12 Billion
Photo Credit: Popular destinations in the U.S., like San Francisco, are being hurt by long visa delays. Getty Images / Bjorn Bakstad
Skift Take
Newly released estimates on the impact to the economy from visa wait times are a bad sign for a recovering travel industry — and clearly the blame is growing against a State Department that shows no signs of resolving the unprecedented delays.
Protracted delays in issuing visas are stifling the much-needed travel recovery in the U.S., newly released estimates show.
The U.S. Travel Association, the leading lobby group for the industry, estimates the delays by the U.S. State Department in issuing visas could prevent 6.6 million people from traveling to the U.S. next year, resulting in a loss of $11.6 billion in spending, its economists reported on Thursday.
What's more, Morning Consult surveyed over 900 Brazilian, 1,000 Indian and 490 Mexican adults from September 12 to 16. Brazil, India and
