Jen Psaki ADMITS Biden's international travel ban is 'inconsistent and confusing' as tourism industry says U.S. economy is losing $1.5billion every week the border is closed
White House press secretary Jen Psaki admitted that the administration's travel ban is 'inconsistent and confusing' on Thursday as she said the U.S. plans to maintain restrictions due to the Delta variant of Covid-19.
'There's a lot of confusion about what the restrictions are now and you all have asked a lot of good questions about it because it feels inconsistent and it is,' the press secretary said.
Meanwhile, the US Travel Association claimed that the nation's economy is losing $1.5 billion each week the borders are closed.
She said the White House is still working to develop a 'consistent and safe' international travel policy. Psaki added the US will open the borders to international travel 'when it's appropriate,' without outlining any timeline.
On Wednesday an administration official told Reuters that the White House is preparing to mandate vaccines for all incoming foreign travelers in its first step toward lifting restrictions.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki, pictured above at Thursday's breifing, admitted that the administration's travel ban is 'inconsistent and confusing'
The US border remains closed to 26 European countries, the UK, Iran, China, South Africa, Brazil and India because of COVID-19 concerns. Some of the border bans have not been updated since they were put in place back in March 2020 when the pandemic first took hold
Currently, non U.S.-citizens aren't allowed into the country from China, Iran, most of Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa and India.
Some of the border bans - such as the ones imposed on the EU, UK and China - have not been updated since they were put in place back in March 2020 when the pandemic first took hold.
Biden has been facing mounting pressure to lift the ban - including from travel industry groups and lawmakers in his own party.
On Monday the United Kingdom announced that fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. and the European Union would be allowed back into the country without quarantining for 10 days.
The EU reopened its borders to American tourists in June.
Requiring vaccinations for international travelers from certain countries would come after the Biden administration has long shied away from a vaccine mandate, instead encouraging businesses and localities to institute requirements.
The US Travel Association welcomed the idea that the Biden administration is building a plan to reopen the borders to vaccinated travelers of countries that are restricted, but urged against requiring vaccines for all countries.
'Every week that travel bans on the UK, EU, and Canada remain in place, our economy loses $1.5 billion in spending, which would support 10,000 American jobs,' U.S. Travel Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes said in a statement.
'While vaccinations are a crucial tool to allow us to reopen to 212 countries, it would be a step back to replace the current testing requirement with a vaccine requirement for all other countries.'
'We urge the administration to advance this plan for 212 countries and set a reopening date as quickly as possible, especially as the U.K., much of the E.U., and Canada have all taken recent similar steps to reopen their borders to vaccinated travelers and rebuild their economies,' Barnes added.