ASTA and the U.S. Travel Association reacted to language in one of Trump's many executive orders on Monday that could lead to a ban on travel from countries considered a security risk.
The order calls for "enhanced vetting and screening" of people entering the U.S. and mandates that within 60 days, security agencies and the State Department produce a report "identifying countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries."
ASTA urged "caution and restraint."
"As the administration spends the next 60 days reviewing security protocols that could lead to travel bans, we urge caution and restraint," said ASTA CEO Zane Kerby in a statement. "The administration has a duty to keep our country safe. However, blanket 'entire country' travel bans constrain legitimate business and discourage friendly foreign visitors who boost our economy and return home with a better impression of our country and citizenry. Worst of all, travel bans risk retaliation from targeted countries and their allies and negatively affect Americans' willingness to travel abroad."
Trump's order was not unexpected: he vowed on the campaign trail to reinstate the travel ban from his first presidency. Trump's revised ban that was upheld by the Supreme Court forbade nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S.
Before the inauguration, ASTA urged Trump not to bring back a travel ban, saying that "blanket travel bans don't make us safer, carry tremendous economic and reputational costs, primarily affect legitimate airline passengers, and their implementation will do little to curtail bad actors from accessing our country's borders. Specific threats should be addressed with specific policy prescriptions."
A U.S. Travel Association spokesperson said that any restrictions on travel should come with a welcome.
"Security and travel go hand in hand," the spokesperson said. "It is vital to balance any discussions on potential travel restrictions through the lens of both national security and preserving America's reputation as a welcoming destination. Policies that potentially restrain visitation should be temporary and focused solely on ensuring security while minimizing disruption to lawful travel."
During Trump's first presidency, international arrivals totaled 77.2 million in 2017, 79.7 million in 2018 and 79.2 million in 2019, according to U.S. Travel Association statistics. In the final two years of Barack Obama's administration, international arrivals totaled 77.8 million in 2015 and 76.4 million in 2016.
While inbound U.S. visitation grew in the 2010s, U.S. Travel said it was important to note that market share remained on the decline, with tourism growing more in other countries.
U.S. Travel noted that several major sporting events are set to be hosted in the U.S. in the coming decade.
"With major events on the horizon like the World Cup and Los Angeles Olympics, the U.S. has an extraordinary opportunity to showcase itself as a premier hub to travelers worldwide," the spokesperson said.