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Klobuchar Introduces Legislation to Boost Domestic Tourism

Bill will promote regional tourism growth through local-regional partnerships

April 20, 2010

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Begich (D-AK) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) Act.  The bill will increase regional tourism across the country by creating a competitive grant program to promote domestic tourism.  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. 
  
“Minnesota is a diverse state that has an abundance of travel and vacation opportunities,” said Klobuchar.  “This bill will strengthen local economies and create jobs by bringing businesses together to promote tourism in communities throughout Minnesota and across the country.”

The TRIP Act creates a matching grant program in the Department of Commerce to promote domestic tourism through local-regional partnerships. Grants would benefit regional areas as well as provide benefits to less-marketed tourism destinations.  Over $691 billion is spent on travel and tourism each year and more than 85 percent is the result of domestic travel.

Klobuchar chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion which oversees the U.S. tourism industry.  She cosponsored the bipartisan Travel Promotion Act, which was signed into law last month.  The Travel Promotion Act will promote the United States as an international travel destination and help attract an estimated 1.6 million new international visitors and add $4 billion to the U.S. economy each year. 
 

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