Coverage of the deadly rampage in Santa Barbara, Calif. and the crisis at Veterans Affairs hospitals have overshadowed a recent suggestion by President Barack Obama to make it easier for foreign tourists to visit the United States.

It might not seem relevant to Butler or even Pittsburgh, but in cities popular with foreign tourists such as New York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and Philadelphia, foreign tourism have a real economic impact. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that easing restrictions for tourists entering the U.S. could increase domestic spending $80 billion a year and help create a million jobs at hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

Last week, Obama spoke about reducing hassles facing foreign tourists visiting the U.S., particularly long waits at international airports.

These efforts are intended as a follow-up to efforts announced in 2012 to make it easier for foreigners, particularly Chinese and Brazilians, to get tourism visas for travel to the United States.

For more than a decade, tourists from China, Brazil and some other countries, have had to visit a U.S. consulate in their home country, which often meant costly travel and long waits. In China, for instance, there were only five U.S. consulates. Similarly, in Brazil, another big country nearly as large as China, there are U.S. consulates in only a few big cities.

That arrangement would be similar to offering visa processing for Americans wanting to travel abroad only in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles — meaning people from all other parts of the country would face long drives or expensive airline flights.

After traveling to a consulate, people usually had to endure long lines as a small staff conducted interviews required for tourist visas. And after enduring those headaches, visitors here usually faced long waits at immigration points in U.S. airports. The message: “Welcome to America, now stand in line for hours.”

As word of these hassles spread, many would-be visitors to the U.S. decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. They stayed home, with their money.

Increasing manufacturing and exports has been one idea for boosting the U.S. economy. It’s a worthwhile goal, but it takes time and investment.

Increasing tourism, on the other hand, is relatively easy. We have many attractions that people want to see, and we have stores where foreign visitors want to shop. It should not be hard to cut red tape, add consulate offices and staff in China and Brazil to process more tourist visa applications.And using video conferencing for visa interviews is a suggestion from the U.S. Travel Association that makes sense.

Beyond adding consulate staff in select foreign countries and conducting video interviews, the second phase of the problem must be addressed, so arrival at an international airports in the U.S. does not mean long waits and frustrations.

Spending by foreign tourists helps the U.S. economy and creates or sustains jobs. Increasing foreign tourism should be a no-brainer.

Reducing the costs and bureaucracy faced by foreign visitors is an easy way to boost the U.S. economy. Obama and Congress should work together to make it happen.