Delahunt Bill To Boost Travel And Tourism Gains Momentum

10/11/2007

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt announced today that legislation he filed this summer aimed at enhancing America’s international status as a first rate tourist destination is gaining significant momentum in the House.

“When it comes to welcoming overseas travelers, the United States is losing ground to every other developed nation, as overseas travel to America has decreased nearly 20 percent since 9/11,” Delahunt said.  “This has led to a loss of $100 billion dollars in visitor and tax receipts as well as thousands of lost jobs in every sector of the American economy.”

In July, Delahunt joined with House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.), and Congressmen Farr and Porter who co-chair the Travel and Tourism Caucus, to introduce the “Travel Promotion Act of 2007.”  In just the past few weeks, 91 Members of Congress have signed on as cosponsors, reflecting strong bipartisan support.   

“I am pleased with the enormous amount of support this legislation has received from local chambers of commerce and from the travel and tourism industry.  Across the country, these organizations have played a key role in helping us build a broad base of support for this important legislative proposal,” Delahunt said.

The bill, H.R. 3232, will address America’s overseas travel crisis by establishing a travel promotion campaign funded equally by overseas travelers and contributions from the U.S. travel industry.  The effort would be administered by an independent, but accountable, non-profit organization, and would be a nationally coordinated, public-private campaign to clearly explain U.S. security policies, improve perceptions of the U.S. travel process and promote the United States as a premier travel destination.  Key elements of the bill include:

  • Establishment of the Corporation for Travel Promotion, an independent, non-profit corporation governed by a 14-member board of private-sector directors appointed by the Secretary of Commerce.
  • Creation of a Travel Promotion Fund, financed by a convenience fee paid by  overseas travelers and collected via the Electronic Travel Authorization system, which just passed Congress as part of HR 1. These fees would be fully matched by private industry donations to the fund.
  • Much-needed updates to current law, including the elimination of the Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board (a duplicative independent organization), the restructuring of the Tourism Policy Council to ensure that our homeland security is properly considered, and the clarification of the Secretary of Commerce’s duties and responsibilities relating to travel promotion.

This legislation has the broad support of many organizations which include: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Conference of Mayors,  the Travel Business Roundtable, Discover America Partnership, Walt Disney, Intercontinental Hotels, National Park Association, National Restaurant Association, Travel Industry Association, and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

 

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