President Obama Unveils New Tourism Strategy at Disney World
Thursday, January 19, 2012
By: Tom Parkinson

January 19, 2012 | WMFE - President Obama says he wants to expand an existing visa program to make it easier for visitors from developing nations to visit the US. The president made the announcement Thursday during a quick visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando. 90.7's Tom Parkinson reports.

Foreign tourists love to visit Central Florida’s theme parks but they often complain about the difficulty of getting a visa to enter the US.
President Obama says many of the international visitors over the next decade will be coming from countries with a rapidly growing middle class and a burning desire to see Mickey Mouse,

 “Countries like China and India and, especially important for here in Florida, Brazil. A huge population that loves to come to Florida…..But we make it too hard for them.”

The president says he wants to make that process easier so he’s directing the state department to expand access to American visas in  those countries by 40 percent.
Mr. Obama says the accelerated visa program can be expanded without significant risks to homeland security.