New federal initiatives may bring more international tourists and their money into the north country.

President Obama signed an executive order Thursday that creates a task force to promote the United States as a global tourism destination and streamlines the travel visa process to make it easier for tourists to come here, especially from China and Brazil.

Officials say the initiative could be a boon to the north country by making it easier for visitors to Canada to also take a trip into the U.S. and spending some of their vacation money here.

"We know that they're coming to places like Canada," said north country Congressman Bill Owens (D. - 23rd District).

"We want to make sure we're facilitating the movement of these folks to us here in the United States," Owens said

There's a national push to attract international travelers and village officials in Clayton hope that push hits home.

"In the north country, I think we recognize that tourism is one of our number one industries," said Town of Clayton Supervisor Justin Taylor.

Taylor says local officials welcome any help from the government to increase tourism. In fact, he says he already sees diversity in tourists visiting.

"Where you really see it is when you sit at a restaurant and you hear the different dialects," Taylor said.

The main concern over this push is security. Making it easier to get into the country could be dangerous. But officials say it's a process that can be worked out.

"It's always a balancing act," Owens said.

"You  need to be focused on security, but you also need to be making sure that you're allowing people and goods to move back and forth across the border."

Local officials hope something is done to speed up and streamline the process for crossing the border.

"If there's impediments, if there's barriers that would keep people out, or that their comfort level isn't there, then they're not going to come to the North Country," Taylor said.

The task force is expected to update the president on its findings within the next three months.