The US House of Representatives has voted to immediately lift the remaining entry barrier for international visitors.
Members voted 227 to 201 in favour of a bill to end the requirement for foreign visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID.
The US dropped the need for a pre-entry negative COVID test last year, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still insists that arrivals must be fully vaccinated.
The US Travel Association welcomed the vote to drop all restrictions.
In a statement, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes said ‘the need for this requirement has long since passed’.
However, the bill still has to be approved by the US Senate.
The White House is opposed to lifting the entry rule before May 11, when it will end the COVID public health emergency. At that point, the Biden administration said it plans to review all relevant policies, including the vaccine requirement for foreign visitors.
Tori Emerson Barnes said: “US Travel sees no reason to uphold the requirement until May – particularly as visitors from around the world plan spring and smmer travel.
“The US is the only country that has maintained this policy, putting at risk valuable visitor spending the longer it remains in place.
“We thank the bill’s sponsors for their efforts and urge the Senate to pass this bill to normalise travel conditions and boost international arrivals as quickly as possible.”