USTOA BRINGS MEMBER DELEGATES TO THE
CAPITOL FOR ITS 13TH CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS
[Photo caption (L to R): Maria José Abuabara, executive director of tourism of ProColombia; Terry Dale, president and CEO of USTOA; Dana Santucci, executive vice president, EF Education First and USTOA chairman; Daniel Ávila Camacho, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Colombia to the United States; Maria Camila Castellanos Espitia, director, ProColombia, Miami; and Peggy Murphy, executive vice president of USTOA]
NEW YORK – June 12, 2025 – The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) escorted a group of more than 50 Active Member tour operators and Associate Members to Washington, D.C., June 3-4, 2025, to advocate for tourism industry issues impacting the industry, from passport and visa processing to adequate funding of Brand USA and the National Park Service, among other urgent topics.
“In the 13th year of the USTOA Congressional Caucus, our advocacy efforts felt more important than ever,” said USTOA President & CEO Terry Dale. “The Congressional Caucus is a vitally critical forum to engage directly with lawmakers on topics that will ensure the continued success and resilience of our industry and lead us toward a more responsible tourism future.”
The morning of June 4 was packed with informative presentations on the “state of the industry” from a number of industry representatives, including Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA; Jennifer Aguinaga, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism and Director, National Travel and Tourism Office; and Emily Douce, Deputy Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association. Guest speakers included Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the Presidential Task Force for 2026 FIFA World Cup, who spoke about initiatives to improve visa wait times and approval as the US is set to host this international event, and US Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY), who provided insights into the top issues facing Congress.
A small team of USTOA members met at the office of Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19).
In the afternoon, nine teams of USTOA members visited the Capitol for meetings with leading members of Congress to discuss the core issues. Promoting U.S. tourism abroad with continued funding of Brand USA, urging Congress to fund the administration’s Air Traffic Control modernization plan, the impact of tariffs on international and outbound U.S. travel, supporting National Park Service funding and sufficient staffing, encouraging improvement in passport application processing delays, and urging expedited visa processing and backlog reduction are among the topics discussed.
Additional conversation included the INVEST in our Communities Act which aims to boost much-needed tourism and economic development in light of the recent drop off in Canadian travel to the US; supporting the DOT-Aviation Consumer Protection; and supporting travel infrastructure including the backing expansion of TSA Pre-check and Global Entry as well as phased enforcement and flexibility for REAL ID until full compliance on May 7, 2027.
Dale continued, “USTOA remains committed to being an advocate for responsible tourism, and these meetings proved to be a highly effective platform to communicate that message to key lawmakers. We have learned that our collective voice does matter and can make a difference. The participation of our members and the members of Congress who took the time to engage in discussions on the issues that matter most to our industry is deeply appreciated.”
The Caucus kicked off with an opening night reception and dinner at the Colombian Ambassador 's residence, hosted by Daniel Ávila Camacho, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Colombia to the United States. Special guest Charlie Sykes, regular contributor to MSNBC and former editor-in-chief of The Bulwark, addressed the group about the importance to stay engaged in politics, among other timely topics.
On behalf of all USTOA members, Dale extended his appreciation to the sponsors of the USTOA Congressional Caucus for their support with a special thanks go to ProColombia, the Museum of the Bible for hosting the meeting venue, Visit Anchorage and CCRA Travel Commerce Network.
For more information on USTOA, visit www.ustoa.com.
About USTOA:
Representing $24.4 billion in revenue, the member companies of U.S. Tour Operators Association provide tours, packages and custom arrangements that allow 8.4 million travelers annually unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value, and freedom to enjoy destinations and experiences across the entire globe. Each member company has met the travel industry’s highest standards, including participation in the USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program, which protects consumer payments up to $1 million if the company goes out of business. As a voice for the tour operator industry for more than 50 years, USTOA also provides education and assistance for consumers and travel advisors.
Press Contacts:
Gina Dolecki/Gabrielle Naucke
Redpoint
212-229-0119
dolecki@redpointmarketingpr.com /naucke@redpointmarketingpr.com
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