U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement in response to media reports of tough new checks for U.S. visa applicants:

"The travel community has been deferential to this new administration, whose charge it is to keep us safe. So now we respectfully request public acknowledgement of our nation's interest in welcoming legitimate travel. Mr. President, please tell the world that while we're closed to terror, we're open for business. Imbalanced communication is especially susceptible to being 'lost in translation'—so let's work together to inform our friends and neighbors, who could benefit from reassurance, not just who is no longer welcome here, but who remains invited to invest and vacation here."