The U.S. Travel Association will soon launch a new coalition to encourage foreign visitors to travel to the U.S. after a sharp decline last year in the number of tourists and business travelers entering the country, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

"Visit US" plans to deliver the message that the U.S. welcomes foreign visitors, Jonathan Grella, executive vice president of public affairs at U.S. Travel, told the newspaper. Details of the coalition will be unveiled in coming weeks, he added.

The number of foreign visitors traveling to the U.S. declined 4 percent during the first six months of 2017 compared with the same time period the previous year, according to government figures. Some in the travel industry have blamed President Donald Trump, saying his travel ban on travelers from some Muslim-majority countries and his nationalist rhetoric have convinced many foreigners that the U.S. doesn't welcome outsiders. However, the L.A. Times also noted the U.S. dollar's growing strength against other currencies and new airport security measures may also be to blame.

Grella didn't blame Trump for the travel slump when pressed by the newspaper, but said the new coalition will work for a "more balanced rhetoric" concerning foreign visitors.

"We want to get to the place that the administration says we are closed for terrorism but open for business," he said. http://lat.ms/2CIsgTS

MORE CEO DATELINE

• Advertising group acquires word-of-mouth association
• Petition sets up vote on qualifications for library association leader
• Trade dispute puts newspapers in administration crosshairs
• Association expects 51 million to fly during holidays
• Science, health groups concerned about ‘banned words' at federal agencies