A number of organizations from the U.S. travel and aviation industry called on the Biden administration March 22 to set a May 1 deadline to commit to a plan for reopening the country to inbound international visitation.

The 26 organizations to sign the letter included the U.S. Travel Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the United States Tour Operators Association and the Aerospace Industries Association.

The industry letter to the White House notes that 2020 international arrivals to the U.S. fell 62% from Mexico versus the previous year, 77% from Canada, and 81% from overseas markets for a total loss to the U.S. economy of $146 billion in 2020.

“Travel and tourism is the industry hardest hit by the economic fallout of COVID, and the damage is so severe that a broader economic recovery will stall if we can’t get travel off the ground,” said Roger Dow, CEO at the U.S. Travel Association. “Fortunately, enough progress has been made on the health front that a rebound for domestic leisure travel looks possible this year, but that alone won’t get the job done. A full travel recovery will depend on reopening international markets, and we must also contend with the challenge of reviving business travel.”