Trade group says Obama ‘gets’ the travel industry

The travel industry, on a rebound from the economic downturn of a few years ago, should continue to thrive under a second term of President Obama.

That was the message sent Wednesday by the U.S. Travel Assn., the nation’s largest trade group for the travel industry.

Although the Washington group does not make political endorsements, it has voiced support for Obama’s policies in the last few years and said it expects the administration to continue to support the industry.

“We can expect President Obama and his administration to vigorously defend the travel-policy accomplishments he achieved in his first term,” Roger Dow, president of the trade group, said in a statement.

Dow credits Obama for supporting legislation to fund the first nationwide travel promotion campaign, dubbed Brand USA.

He said Obama also won many fans in the industry in January when he announced plans to make it easier for international visitors to travel to the U.S., partly by accelerating the visa process for travelers from China and Brazil.

Dow said the announcement “best epitomized the fact that the Obama administration ‘gets’ travel.”

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