Courier July Courier | Page 14

BUSINESS How travel professionals can support clients traveling abroad BY OGNIANA IVANOVA-SRIRAM CONSULAR AFFAIRS OFFICE OF POLICY COORDINATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE EVERY YEAR, tens of millions of U.S. citizens travel abroad, and the United States welcomes tens of millions of international visitors. A significant percentage of all those domestic and foreign travelers use the services of tour operators and travel agents to book all or part of their trip. Many travelers also elect to consult travel professionals for advice before and during their vacations. Now, thanks to the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, those agents and tour operators can easily find informa- tion about Department of State services. To make the search for answers easier, the department has compiled the most frequently requested i