WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives late Thursday passed legislation expected to bring millions of new tourists to the United States each year.  U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) is a cosponsor of H.R. 3232, the Travel Promotion Act.  He worked to include a provision in the bill to attract some of those new tourists to rural areas such as northern Michigan.

“Tourism is an important industry for Michigan and one of the largest employers in my district,” Stupak said.  “Tourists don’t just travel to large metropolitan areas or the beaches of Florida and Southern California.  Many are looking for the beautiful destinations in Northern Michigan and this bill will help ensure those visitors know what we have to offer.”

The Travel Promotion Act establishes a Corporation for Travel Promotion, an independent, non-profit corporation governed by a 15-member board of directors appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.  The Corporation for Travel Promotion is funded by transfers from the newly created Travel Promotion Fund within the Department of the Treasury and matching contributions from private industry.  Revenue is generated for the Travel Promotion Fund from a $10 fee on foreign travelers not already paying a visa fee to enter the country.  The Corporation is tasked with promoting tourism to the United States and spreading information in foreign countries about U.S. entry requirements.

“This bill is a win for industry and workers,” Stupak said.  “Our domestic tourism industry benefits from new visitors and workers benefit from increased job security and job growth in northern Michigan.”

Stupak included a provision that requires the Corporation for Travel Promotion to develop and execute a plan to promote tourism in rural areas.  It requires the Corporation for Travel Promotion to include a comprehensive and detailed annual report to Congress on these efforts.

Since 2000, the number of overseas travelers visiting the United States has been on the decline.  Two million fewer overseas travelers visited the U.S. in 2007 than in 2000.  This has resulted in $137 billion in lost tourism spending and $22 billion in lost tax revenue for federal, state and local governments.  Oxford Economics estimates the Travel Promotion Act would yield millions of new visitors each year and at least $8 billion in new visitor spending.