“A lot of people would like to lay this at the feet of our president, but we’ve come a long way in helping the administration appreciate and understand what a crucial value travel is to exports and as a job creator for our country.”

Dow revealed he met president Donald Trump late last year together with some of the travel industry’s most prominent chief executives to talk about the importance of travel to the US economy.

The president, he said, was “receptive to the message that travel growth can be achieved without compromising security”, adding a regular dialogue was being maintained with the White House and other parts of the administration.

Preclearance facilities are also being expanded internationally, according to Dow. He said there were currently 15 airports in six countries with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities allowing passengers to clear customs before boarding flights to the US. They include eight in Canada and two in Ireland – Dublin and Shannon.

“Sweden and the Dominican Republic are among countries that recently signed agreements to have preclearance sites,” said Dow. “We are also supporting CBP’s efforts to have these sites in countries such as the UK, Japan and Colombia.”

Dow, though, said he could not yet specify when the UK facilities might open. Conversations are ongoing.

Key figures on US travel