The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld President Donald Trump's ban on travel from several Muslim-majority countries, dealing a blow to travel industry associations worried that the ban could discourage foreign visitors from coming to the U.S.

Justices ruled 5-4 in favor of the ban on travel from eight countries. The policy evolved from Trump's campaign pledge to halt Muslim travel to the U.S. But after earlier versions of the ban were shot down by courts out of concerns of religious discrimination, the administration amended the policy to include the non-Muslim countries Venezuela and North Korea, which was the version upheld by the Supreme Court.

In a statement, Global Business Travel Association CEO Mike McCormick pointed to research indicating the ban was having negative impact on all business travel to the U.S. Very few visitors come to the U.S. from the countries included in the policy, but GBTA and the greater travel industry fear the ban sends a signal to all foreigners that they are not welcome.

"When policies are introduced without consulting stakeholders and presented without warning, it causes damage to the United States as a destination for foreign travel," McCormick said. "However, it is not irreparable. The U.S. economy remains strong and is an attractive place for business." http://bit.ly/2lHJohT

Greely Koch, executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, told the industry news site Skift the court's decision is "a setback for the principles underlying the global economy." http://bit.ly/2KixOs2

"ACTE is concerned by the implications for a healthy business environment that relies on the critical economic inputs and outputs from both workers and tourists coming into the U.S. from all corners of the globe," he said.

Trump has said the ban is needed to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks. McCormick and other travel industry leaders agree security should be a concern. The U.S. Travel Association took a conciliatory tone in its reaction to the court decision after having earlier expressed concerns about the ban.

"Today's decision should enable the White House to move on to a new messaging phase: making it clear that keeping bad actors out remains a priority, but making it equally clear that legitimate business and leisure travelers are as welcome and desired as ever in the United States," said U.S. Travel Executive Vice President for Public Affairs Jonathan Grella. http://bit.ly/2yQA2cS

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