Speech #1040203153

Mr. President. during todays debate on S. 1664. I wanted to take the opportunity to speak on a bill I have cosponsored. the Korea visa waiver pilot project legislation. S. 1616. While this legislation is not being offered as an amendment to S. 1664. the subject of the bill is relevant to todays debate. I would urge all Senators to consider cosponsoring this Jegislation. and I would hope that the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration of the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on the problems of visa issuance for Koreans. and the partial solution offered by S. 1616. I have worked closely with Senators INOUYE. AKAKA. and STEVENS on this legislation. This bill addresses the problem of the slow issuance of United States tourist visas to Korean citizens. and their. too often. subsequent decision not to vacation in the United States. including Alaska even though there are direct flights available for tourists from Korea to Alaska. The United States Chamber of Commerce in Korea has made resolving this issue a top priority on their agenda. The main problem is that Koreans typically wait 2 to 3 weeks to obtain visas from the United States Embassy in Seoul. As a result. these spontaneous travelers decide to go to one of the other 48 nations that allow them to travel to their country without a visa. including both Canada and New Zealand. This bill provides the legal basis for a carefully controlled pilot program for visa free travel by Koreans to the United States. The program seeks to capture the Korean tourism market lost due to the cumbersome visa system. For example. in 1994. 296.706 nonimmigrant United States visas were granted to Koreans of which 7.000 came to Alaska. It Is predicted that there would be a 500- to 700percent increase in Korean tourism to Alaska with the visa waiver pilot project. In New Zealand. for example. a 700percent increase In tourism from Korea occurred after they dropped the visa requirement. This pilot program allows visitors in a tour group from South Korea to travel to the United States without a visa. However. it does not compromise the security standards of the United States. The program would allow selected travel agencies in Korea to issue temporary travel permits based on applicants meeting the same preset standards used by the United States Embassy in Seoul.