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US airports use Disney to cover Mickey Mouse operation

US airports use Disney to cover Mickey Mouse operation Passengers flying into the US for their holidays will be distracted from the delays as they wait in passport control with films made by Walt Disney that promote American tourist attractions, set to be screened at two major airports.

Called Welcome: Portraits of America, the seven-minute films will be played to incoming travellers welcoming them to the country at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC and at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

Eventually, it is planned that all major US airports play the film in their international arrivals halls. US consulates around the world are also set to screen the promotional video and airlines are being urging to show it as part of in-flight entertainment prior to landing in the US.

The mini-movie contains shots of popular US tourist attractions the Statue of Liberty, Monument Valley, the Space Needle, the Chrysler Building, the Grand Canyon and the Golden Gate Bridge, among other lesser known sights.

This initiative is part of a drive to promote the US as a friendly country to visit, after passenger numbers began to drop off following the strict and surly security that has been introduced in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Frederico Tio, who has made many Disney films, including Finding Nemo, was commissioned to direct the film.

"We thought it would be nice for people to be greeted by beautiful images that inspire them to explore America," Mr Tio said. He toured the US with a film crew for 35 months to capture the 'varied landscapes and diverse population' of the US.

"The beauty of the United States was a starting point for us," Mr Tio said. "We wanted to capture not only the majesty of our landscapes, but the excitement of our cities, too."

"I hope that when people make the decision to come to this country, they're happy to be here," Mr Tio finished. "Going though customs at the airport can be stressful, but maybe seeing these images will make the process a little more pleasant."

While Travel Counsellors applauds any efforts in the air travel industry to improve passenger experiences, it would be better for airports not to cause delays in the first place. Travel Counsellors firmly believes that additional staff and more efficient procedures can cut airport delays out of the equation.

In the UK, Travel Counsellors is lobbying the air industry to stop making passengers lives a misery with delays. Please visit our campaign website to register complaints you have about poor service at the UK's hubs.

Airport News posted on 24 October 2007

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