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News to Know
GBTA Calls for Balanced Approach to New ESTA Requirements, Citing Risks to Global Business Travel
GBTA has filed formal comments urging U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to take a “balanced and practical approach” to significant proposed changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) requirements. The proposed changes would require travelers seeking to enter the U.S. from 42 Visa Waiver Program countries to provide significantly expanded personal, digital, and family information.
GBTA outlined the potential competitive, operational and economic consequences of the proposed revisions. Overly burdensome data collection and restrictive application processes could disrupt global business travel, undermine corporate mobility, and weaken the U.S.’s position as a destination for international travel and meetings, along with the risk of negative impacts on business travelers.
“While GBTA strongly supports efforts to protect U.S. borders and enhance traveler security, the proposed changes pose significant risks and could undermine the benefits that business travel brings to organizations who send their employees on international trips to the U.S. and the American destinations who welcome them,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA.
The filed comments included data from GBTA’s January 2026 business travel industry poll reflecting substantial and widespread concern among global professionals. This includes concern voiced by 78% of travel professionals representing organizations that regularly send employees to the U.S., 65% citing increased difficulty managing travel, and 64% the added complexity in sending travelers to the U.S.
Read more in GBTA’s full statement here and the comments GBTA filed with the CBP on Friday, February 6.
GBTA U.S. members are encouraged to submit an email via the GBTA Advocacy Action Center to their members of Congress to express any concerns to the proposed changes.
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