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Klobuchar Urges Passage of Travel Promotion Act

Bi-partisan Legislation will Help U.S. Economy, Attract Millions More International Visitors As Chair of Senate Subcommittee on Tourism, Klobuchar urges quick action

June 11, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Today, in a speech on the floor of the Senate, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar called for passage of the Travel Promotion Act. This bi-partisan legislation will promote the United States as an international travel destination, stimulate the economy and create jobs. Klobuchar is a cosponsor of the legislation and helped push the bill through the Senate Commerce Committee, where she serves as Chairman of the subcommittee that oversees the U.S. tourism industry.  Last month, Klobuchar chaired hearings in Washington, D.C. as well as in Duluth and Brainerd to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the travel and tourism industry in the midst of the current economic downturn. 

“While more people around the world are traveling, a smaller percentage of them are visiting the United States,” said Klobuchar.  “We need to do more to promote the United States to international travelers.  At no cost to the taxpayer, we can pass a bill that will promote the U.S. abroad, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”

Since 2000, the U.S. share of the world travel market has decreased by nearly 20 percent, costing us hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue.  Additionally, the tourism industry is feeling the effects of the economic downturn.  In 2008, nearly 200,000 travel-related jobs were lost nationally, and the U.S. Commerce Department forecasts that another 247,000 jobs will be lost in 2009.

The Travel Promotion Act will establish a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination. The legislation calls for travel promotion to be paid for by private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers who enter the United States. The bill, which requires no money from the American taxpayer, is estimated to attract 1.6 million new international visitors to the country and add $4 billion to the U.S. economy.  An analysis by the U.S. Travel Association reveals that this program would create nearly 40,000 new American jobs.

Tourism is the fifth largest industry in Minnesota, generating $11 billion in sales and providing nearly 11 percent of the state’s total private sector employment.

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