New Study Shows that Summer Work Travel Delivers Significant Public Policy Benefits and Strengthens the U.S. Economy

Comes on Heels of White House Threat to Eliminate the Program

Washington, DC (August 29, 2017) – As a follow up to several stories that ran this week highlighting the Administration’s efforts to eliminate the J1 Exchange Visitor Program — a State Department cultural exchange for international students and young professionals —below is a link to a report by the research firm EurekaFacts showing that one of those J1 programs, Summer Work Travel (SWT), delivers significant benefits to the U.S. in terms of public diplomacy and economic contributions.

This extensive assessment found that SWT participants leave the program with higher regard and understanding of the United States while making lasting friendships with Americans they met. The program also helps keep local, seasonal economies strong, meeting the unique needs of small, seasonal businesses. Participants in the SWT program also contributed more than $500 million to the U.S. economy in 2016 via the money they spent in the country.

Link to report: www.eurekafacts.com/swtimpact.

The EurekaFacts press release with highlights from the report is available here.

Compliments of InterExchange, an EACCNY member