The U.S. travel economy has lost over $1 billion since the government shutdown began on October 1, according to the U.S. Travel Association (USTA).
The association, which advocates for laws that help the travel industry within the United States, warned about the economic impact of a potential shutdown in late September. A shutdown is currently costing the travel industry about $1 billion each week the government is closed.
“This shutdown is doing real, irreversible damage,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Travelers are facing longer TSA lines and flight delays. Airports are reducing flights and we’ve seen entire control towers go dark. The longer this drags on, the worse the cascade of damage will be—for local communities, for small businesses and for the country. Congress needs to act now and reopen the government.”
“Travel keeps America moving. When travel is delayed and services are disrupted, the ripple effects reach every corner of our country,” added Freeman.
USTA is currently running a calculator of the true impact of the shutdown on its website. It reached $1 billion on Wednesday, October 8, and continues to rise.
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