OREANDA-NEWS. On the heels of National Travel and Tourism Week, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) Director Emilio T. Gonzalez hosted U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow at Miami International Airport on Monday. Based in Washington, D.C., Dow was accompanied on his visit to MIA by Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) President & CEO Bill Talbert. The group discussed the travel and tourism industry's profound impact on the local economy, as well as MIA's role as both the premier gateway to Florida for visitors from abroad and as America's second-busiest port of entry.

Dow shared his organization's support for a new initiative to bring 100 million annual international visitors to the U.S. by 2021, which was launched last week as part of President Obama's new National Travel and Tourism Strategy. MIA is already poised to play a strong role in that effort, as more than 20 million international passengers traveled through the airport in 2013 alone - second-most among all U.S. airports. Notably, 99 percent of international visitors to

Miami arrived by air last year, with 88 percent of those visitors arriving at MIA. Additionally, a full 70 percent of Florida's international visitors travel through MIA.

The group also discussed the upcoming World Cup, which kicks off next month in Brazil. MIA anticipates that about 100,000 passengers will fly from MIA to Brazil this June during the global soccer competition, up from 75,000 last June. The addition of six new international air carriers at MIA in 2014 will also provide a solid boost to international passenger totals at the airport, while bolstering the local travel and tourism sector as well.

"I'm grateful to Roger for taking the time to visit MIA and share his organization's priorities with us," said Gonzalez. "The U.S. Travel Association sets the tone nationwide for the travel and tourism industry that is so vital to our local economy here in Miami-Dade County. We are proud to support their mission and the many local jobs that directly result from a strong airport and a vibrant tourism industry."