Tourism / Visa / Customs / Immigration
Tourism
2025 Economic Impact of Travel
Visit California, April 2026
Highlights from the Visit California 2025 Economic Impact of Travel include:
- Total travel spending in California in 2025 was $158.9 billion.
- Employment related to travel grew by roughly 4,350 billion jobs, which brought the total of travel-supported jobs in California to 1.2 million.
- Local and state tax revenue totaled $13.6 billion.
- Spending on accommodations saw an increase of 2.2%, totaling $35.2 billion.
- Motel, hotel, or vacation rental spending totaled $83 billion, an increase of 2.7% compared to the previous year.
CalChamber’s Tourism Information
ETIAS Application Made Simple: A Guide for American Travelers
ETIAS.com
Visitor Screening Proposal Could Hurt Tourism, CalChamber Warns
CalChamber, February 13, 2026
A Golden Age of Air Travel Is Within Reach — First Shoes, Now Liquids
The Well News, September 30, 2025
International tourist arrivals up 4% in 2025 reflecting strong travel demand around the world
UN World Tourism Organization, April 15, 2026
Contacts:
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Travel Information
U.S. Department of State
Discover America Partnership (DAP)
The CalChamber is a member of DAP, a diverse coalition of industries and associations whose work depends on safe and efficient inbound international travel. The DAP is a lobbying and grassroots campaign to advance visa and entry reforms to enable the United States to regain our historical share of the booming world travel market.
www.discoveramericapartnership.org
Visa Waiver Program
One of the JOLT Act’s key economic and national security objectives is to expand the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program currently allows business and leisure travelers from 38 partnering countries to visit the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a non-immigrant visitor visa. An enhanced Visa Waiver Program would provide necessary updates to the program while also allowing the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to designate additional program countries.
For more information and to see what countries qualify, please visit the DHS Visa Waiver Program webpage.
Business Leaders Tout Economic Benefits of Passing JOLT Act
Discover America Partnership, June 12, 2014
Jobs Originated Through Launching Travel Act (JOLT Act) Summary
U.S. Chamber, March 2012
Featured Countries:
Chile
The United States Department of Homeland Security announces that Chile will not lose the Visa Waiver
Metro News, July 31, 2025
On February 28, 2014, Chile became the 38th nation to join the Visa Waiver Program.
Chile is an important partner with the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement implemented on January 1, 2004. According to the U.S. Travel Association, visitors from Chile to the U.S. spent more than $5,000 per trip in 2012.
DHS Announces Chile’s Designation Into the Visa Waiver Program
Department of Homeland Security, February 28, 2014
Taiwan
As of November 1, 2012, people from Taiwan have been able to visit the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. The entry of Taiwan into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program not only supports the National Travel and Tourism Strategy, but it strengthens the nation’s economic partnership with Taiwan by giving more opportunities for the Taiwanese and Americans to do business with one another.
For more information, please see the International Trade Administration’s Taiwan Country Commercial Guide
Expand the Visa Waiver Program
U.S. Travel Association
Visa Waiver Program Myths and Realities
U.S. Travel Association
Visa:
H-1B Visa:
“The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce by authorizing the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorized to work in the United States.
The law establishes certain standards in order to protect similarly employed U.S. workers from being adversely affected by the employment of the nonimmigrant workers, as well as to protect the H-1B nonimmigrant workers. Employers must attest to the Department of Labor that they will pay wages to the H-1B nonimmigrant workers that are at least equal to the actual wage paid by the employer to other workers with similar experience and qualifications for the job in question, or the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment – whichever is greater.” U.S. Department of Labor
H-1B Visa Program
U.S. Department of Labor
H-1B FAQ
U.S. Department of State, September 21, 2025
More Articles:
U.S. Chamber Files Lawsuit to Support Businesses’ Use of H-1B Visas
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, October 16, 2025
U.S. Chamber Lawsuit on Use of H-1B Visas
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, October 16, 2025
H-1B Visas: What You Need to Know
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, October 16, 2025
Letter to the Secretary of Commerce on the H-1B Program
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, September 26, 2025
Memorandum – Proclamation, Restriction on Entry
of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, H-1B
U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, September 20, 2025
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Suspends the Entry of Certain Alien Nonimmigrant Workers
The White House, September 19, 2025
Customs
ACE Reports
U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection
ACE Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Immigration
Overview
Immigration has a significant impact on California’s economy, affecting both the labor force and the movement of goods. Both documented and undocumented immigration is expected to account for almost all of the growth in the labor force. However, America’s current immigration system is broken and does not meet the needs of our citizens or businesses.
CalChamber Position
America cannot compete and win in a global economy without attracting and retaining a talented workforce of big dreamers. Immigration reform is one of the compelling challenges of our time.
Read position details in the CalChamber Business Issues Guide summary