The group said they pushed back on such proposals, citing the devastating impact on the US travel industry specifically, but also on the broader US economy. The group estimated the US has lost $300 billion in export income since the start of the pandemic.
As well as new travel measures, the Biden administration is rolling out additional programmes and campaigns to increase vaccination rates across the US.
The omicron variant has now been identified in 29 countries globally, including South Africa where it was originally sequenced as a variant, but also in a host of European countries and a handful of Asia-Pacific nations like Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.
A number of those countries have also tightened travel restrictions, including the UK which has reintroduced PCR testing as a requirement of all passengers within two days of arrival in the country.
Tags: Covid-19, US Travel Association, Omicron, Tourism, United States
