ECA Advocacy Update: June 21, 2024
1. Visa wait times update 🌍 |
Around the world, event organizers are still working trying to bring back all of their international exhibitors and attendees.
In their words: "Nearly three years after the Covid pandemic, events are still low on international exhibitors, attendees, and buyers. Visa delays are blamed for much of this shortfall," wrote Andrea Doyle for Skift Meetings.
By the numbers: As of June 21, here are the average visitor visa interview wait times in key inbound business travel markets:
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- Brazil: 45 days
- China: 64 days
- India: 281 days
- Mexico: 517 days
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In recent weeks, average interview wait times in Mexico have gone down 200+ days. While this is good news, wait times still remain astronomically high.
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ECA continues to advocate for further reducing visa wait times and supports three important bills on Capitol Hill to increase State Department flexibility, transparency, and accountability:
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2. Future workforce outreach at SkillsUSA |
Later this month, ECA's Exhibitions Industry Collective partners will be at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA to talk to attendees about career opportunities in the business events industry.
Why it matters: With 15,000 college, high school, and middle school students enrolled in technical and trade training programs attending, this 4-day event is the largest annual gathering of America's future skilled workforce!
Kudos to ECA's Collective partners who are driving this important visibility:
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3. State advocacy and policy news |
This summer, ECA will be actively engaged on two state policy issues with the potential to negatively impact the industry.
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- In California, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on its proposed zero-emission forklift rule on June 27. ECA continues to be engaged with CARB staff on key aspects of the rule where the environmental goals and industry feasibility can be better aligned.
- In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen will call a special legislative session from July 26 to August 15 for the legislature to consider his plan to cut property taxes by $1 billion. As part of this, ECA expects the legislature to reconsider the previously-rejected 7.5% digital advertising tax proposal, which ECA opposes.
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4. In case you missed it... |
- ECA Legislative Action Day was recapped by USAE News, EXHIBITOR, and Travel and Tour World.
- Exhibition World highlighted the expanded reach of Global Exhibitions Day.
- ESCA's Summer Educational Conference, which take place next week, will include two sessions featuring ECA, including a panel with all 6 Exhibitions Industry Collective association leaders.
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Thomas F. (Tommy) Goodwin
Vice President
tommy.goodwin@exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org
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