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Breaking News: President signs Travel Promotion Act
After the House passed the bill in 2009, the Senate passed it on Feb. 25 with a clear bipartisan support of 78-18.
“The United States Congress has sent a clear message that travel is a high priority to our nation and that tangible steps must be taken to increase travel to and within the United States,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.
The Travel Promotion Act creates the Corporation for Travel Promotion, which with the help of the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security and State, will develop a nationally coordinated marketing and communications program to draw more foreign travelers and explain travel security policies.
An estimate by the independent analysis Oxford Economics determined the program could attract 1.6 million additional non-U.S. visitors and more than $4 billion in consumer spending annually.
Funding for the corporation will come from a matching program up to $100 million from private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers not purchasing a $131 visa to enter the country. No funds will come from U.S. taxpayers’ money.
The U.S. travel industry saw the passing of the long-expected bill as a great boon to the country’s tourism policy.
“The Travel Promotion Act is a significant step in the right direction for our national and local economies,” said Steve Moore, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The new program will bring critical international tourist dollars to our hotels, attractions, restaurants and transportation providers.”
“The Travel Promotion Act is what this economy needs right now in Michigan and throughout the United States,” said George Zimmermann, vice president of Travel Michigan. “Travel employs 7.7 million Americans whose jobs cannot be outsourced, and more international tourism means more American jobs.”
“The program will allow the United States to be more competitive with other countries to attract international travelers,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It will stimulate the economy and create jobs, all at no cost to the American taxpayer.”
Another domestic tourism travel promotion bill was introduced by Rep. San Farr, D-Calif. to provide $50 million in matching federal funds to U.S. destinations as well. The Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) instructs the Commerce Department to develop a grant program ranging from $100,000 to $1 million each.
“In today’s economy, investing in travel and tourism development is more critical than ever,” said Peter Pantuso, president and CEO of the American Bus Association, which has urged Congress to pass the measure. “Even as the United States continues to face tighter budges, attracting visitors to America’s destinations coast to coast for leisure, business and sightseeing trips is critical to our economy. Tourism spending is actually an investment.”
