BY THE WAY ( A PSA )
WHAT ADVISORS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ASTA ’ S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
Behind ASTA ’ s efforts to help U . S . travel and tourism rebound from the pandemic .
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From mask mandates to testing requirements , the past few years have shown how deeply government policies impact travel and tourism .
The American Society of Travel Advisors ( ASTA ) represents 2,600 travel advisors and vendors nationwide . Undoubtedly , ASTA members felt financial pain as guidelines and restrictions were implemented across the travel industry during the pandemic . According to recent ASTA member surveys , the average travel agency ’ s revenue was down 71 % in 2021 compared to 2019 .
“ Congress and the administration make decisions and pass laws that affect travel advisors of all kinds — as well as the products they sell to their clients — every day , whether they realize it or not ,” says Jessica Klement , vice president , advocacy at ASTA . “ The most effective way to have a say in the legislative process is to take grassroots action .”
With this goal in mind , the organization hosts Legislative Day each year where travel advisors get a crash course in grassroots advocacy . They then use what they learn to speak to legislators directly the following day .
On June 22 , 2022 , more than 225 attendees from over 40 states arrived on Capitol Hill to advocate directly for policies that could help travel agencies . Their efforts resulted in 16 new bipartisan cosponsors for two bills ; Klement anticipates even more when Congress is back in session .
CONSISTENT CAMPAIGNING LED TO CHANGE One of ASTA ’ s goals was to petition lawmakers to remove the COVID-19 testing requirement for inbound international travelers ( Ultimately , the Biden Administration reversed the testing requirement less than two weeks before this year ’ s Legislative Day ).
In December 2021 , the CDC tightened the existing Global Testing Order to require all international travelers , regardless of citizenship
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