June 06--WASHINGTON -- Members of Florida's congressional delegation met Thursday with top representatives from the state's tourism industry, and the early-morning affair was similar to a young kid asking his parents for one more ride at Walt Disney World.

Though Florida tourism is on a roll -- attracting a record 26 million visitors to the state in the first three months of the year -- the industry representatives want more. Last year, about 91 million visitors came to the Sunshine State, and they hope to crack the 100 million mark in the next few years.

"Our goal is to make Florida the number one tourist destination in the world," said Will Seccombe, president and CEO of Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing company.

To do that, Seccombe and his colleagues urged quick action on one specific issue: a shortage of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Though the U.S. is doing more to attract international travelers, they said that outreach is being blunted by long waits facing these travelers once they land at Florida airports.

Recent statistics released by the U.S. Travel Association show these waits -- which can last three hours or more -- are making foreigners rethink trips to America. About 43 percent of overseas travelers who visited the U.S. in the last five years said they would tell friends to avoid a U.S. trip because of the grueling entry process, according to the poll unveiled in March.

That's a big barrier to the 100-million visitor goal, Seccombe told nine Florida lawmakers during the gathering over coffee and doughnuts.

"We've got to have a red carpet waiting and a big welcome mat," Seccombe said. "Anything you can do to help lay out that welcome mat ... will help us."

Already, several South Florida legislators have asked congressional spending committees to support a $221-million request by the White House to increase the number of Customs agents to alleviate wait times. And U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, said he also would advocate for ways to "streamline" the entry process, though he wasn't specific on how.

"We want to do more to help you get to 100 million visitors," Buchanan said. "At the end of the day that means more well-paying jobs."

[email protected] or 202-824-8222.

___

(c)2013 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)

Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services