British holidaymakers are continuing to shun America despite the favourable pound-dollar rate, it was revealed today.
The difficulties in getting through American customs on arrival in the USA are cited as the greatest deterrent to visiting the country in a US-based poll.
A total of 4.17 million Britons visited the USA in 2006 compared with 4.34 million in 2005 and the pre-September 11 figure of 4.70 million recorded in 2000, figures released by the US department of commerce showed.
The number of international visits to the US did return to pre-2001 levels last year, but only because of big increases in visitors from the two neighbouring countries of Canada and Mexico.
Excluding Canada and Mexico, travel to the US from overseas has declined 17% since 2001.
Among other countries now sending fewer tourists to the USA than pre-September 11 are Japan, Germany, France, Italy and Brazil.
UK visitors to America are now enjoying excellent exchange rate benefits with the pound now around the two-dollar mark - the best for years. However, many in the UK travel industry have complained of the long queues at US entry points and the heavy-handedness of customs teams.
"We have lost millions of international travellers since 9/11 and the problem is only getting worse," said Geoff Freeman, executive director of the Discover America Partnership, a coalition of American business leaders working to strengthen America through the power of travel.
It was a survey by the partnership that found negative perceptions of the US entry process was the greatest deterrent to visiting the country.
Mr Freeman went on: "As travel around the world skyrockets, the US is mired in a slump. It is time for (US) Congress to address this growing problem in a way that both strengthens our security and improves the efficiency of the travel process."