Welcome to Florida: Brazilians would strengthen economy, ties to U.S.

President Obama finally heard the buzz.

For several years, U.S. tourism officials have been wondering aloud why the federal government hasn't been making it easier for people from Brazil and other countries to visit the United States. After all, Brazil has a strong economy, and Brazilians want very much to visit Florida and other parts of our country. So why has the U.S. government made those visits so difficult?

Obama flew to Disney World Jan. 19 to announce he is directing his administration to see whether our government can add more countries to the visa waiver program — including Brazil. It was the right thing to do, and it will have a significant financial impact if Brazil becomes a visa-waiver country.

More than a million Brazilians visited Florida in 2010, spending about $1.4 billion while here. Per capita spending by Brazilians in Florida is among the highest of any foreign visitors. That puts Brazilians high on the fans-of-Florida list — people from the United Kingdom topped the list in 2010, having sent 1.3 million people to the Sunshine State. But the Brits don't spend money like the Brazilians; they spent only about half the money that the Brazilians left behind in Florida. Furthermore, the Brits are on visa waiver.

We shouldn't forget about our best friends, the Canadians, in this discussion. Canada traditionally sends more visitors to Florida than any other country, and Canadians spend more than other foreign visitors as well, though it should be noted that Canadian visitors to the United States are visa-exempt.

But here's an important factor to keep in mind: Easing the U.S.'s visa requirements for Brazilians would mean that the number of Brazilians coming here to visit would expand by a significant measure. The nation would benefit, Brazil would benefit and Florida would see a dramatic increase in visitors from that country.

People now living in 36 foreign lands can visit the United States without having to obtain visas. Unfortunately, we have not extended that privilege to Brazilians. The U.S. Travel Association and others have been working hard to get Brazil added to that list. Tampa International Airport has made it known that it would like to add non-stop flights to Brazil and other destinations in Latin America. Its only flight now is a single weekly trip to Cancun, Mexico.

The United States maintains only four consulates in Brazil, a country roughly the same geographic size. If you are a Brazilian who wants to visit here, you must visit one of those consulates, a requirement that may involve the need to travel many miles. Also, you must make an appointment to visit the consulate, and that can involve a waiting period in excess of 100 days.

For some Brazilians, this lengthy, expensive and difficult process is simply too much; it prevents many Brazilians from realizing their dream of a visit to the United States.

Dropping the visa requirement will double the number of Brazilian tourists who come here, Florida tourism officials estimate. That could mean an additional $1 billion in spending by Brazilian visitors — money that the economies of the United States and Florida desperately need.

The visa issue doesn't apply only to tourists. Brazil's economy has been expanding at a rapid rate the past 10 years. It is a major trade partner for both the United States and Florida.

Here are some economic facts:

• Brazil is the largest economy in South America, and the seventh-largest in the world

• Brazil's total trade with the United States in 2010 totaled $59 billion; $13.9 billion of that was with South Florida.

• South Florida is the home of 15 Brazilian multinational companies, including Odebrecht Construction, Banco de Brasil, and Embraer Aircraft Holding.

Some Americans may feel a sense of discomfort over Brazil's increasing power and influence. But the United States would be better able to influence Brazilian policies if the relationship between the two countries were stronger. Since Brazil holds about $160 billion in U.S. bonds, it is interested in America's financial health.

Adding Brazil as a visa-waiver country would mean stimulating more tourism, encouraging trade and investment, and sending a strong signal that the United States values its relationship with Brazil.