President Obama Visits Walt Disney World Resort to Announce Plans to Boost Tourism

The eyes of the nation were focused on Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday as President Barack Obama unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives to attract more international visitors and make the United States the world’s top tourism and travel destination.

“People want to come here. And China and Brazil are two of the countries with the biggest backlogs," Obama said. "So this is what it's all about – telling the world that America is open for business.”

With Cinderella Castle serving as his backdrop, the president outlined his plans to improve the U.S. travel visa process, especially for residents in emerging countries such as China, Brazil and India. He also detailed other strategies that will significantly increase foreign visitors in the U.S., which not only will contribute to the country’s economic growth but will help create jobs as well.

Each year, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and all of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts' domestic businesses attract millions of international Guests, providing positive economic impact throughout the communities in which they operate. Disney has a long-standing history as an industry leader in initiatives to increase international visitation and supports the President’s efforts to further bolster the growth of potential markets such as Brazil, China and India.

President Obama was the fourth sitting U.S. president to visit a Disney theme park. The sitting Presidents who visited previously are Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.