Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/58695
A CHINESE TOUR GROUP CELEBRATES CHINESE NEW YEAR AT LAS VEGAS PREMIUM OUTLETS WELCOME BACK NEW VISA RULES WILL HELP BOOST TRAFFIC AT TOURIST-CENTRIC U.S. CENTERS By Steve McLinden HE U.S. HAS EASED VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR visitors from two countries that love to shop in America: Brazil and China. For many retail centers and merchants, this could mean less of a reli- ance on economically struggling domestic spenders and more commerce with visitors already known for clearing shelves of luxury merchandise. Insisting that the more people who visit the U.S., the more Americans can be put to work, the White House in January ordered the State Department to speed visas for nonimmigrant Brazilians and Chinese by 40 percent; to ensure that 80 percent of tourist visa applicants get an interview within three weeks; and to issue visas faster to "low-risk" travelers. "This is very good news for our economy, 44 SCT / APRIL 2012