India, Aug. 13 -- The US travel industry is warning that a broader expansion of the Trump administration's visa bond program could discourage international visitors and hurt the US economy, after the State Department made the program permanent for travelers from dozens of countries.

The US Travel Association said it is concerned the visa bond requirement could eventually extend beyond the 50 countries currently covered. The program allows US consular officers to require certain tourist and business visa applicants to post refundable bonds of up to $20,000.

Geoff Freeman, president of the US Travel Association, told Reuters that there were indications the administration could expand the program to additional countries where visas are req...