(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) introduced the Travel Promotion Act today, to increase international tourism to the United States and bolster our country as a destination in the international travel market.
“We have lost ground in attracting international tourists visiting our country in recent years,” said Dorgan. “This bill will help build a coordinated program to promote travel to our country, and increase the number of international travelers to the U.S. International tourism is a strong generator of new jobs in our country.”
“International travel is a multi-billion dollar industry,” said Dorgan. “Rebuilding our country’s appeal as an international travel destination will not only improve our country’s reputation around the world, it will also create jobs and boost local economies throughout the United States.”
The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 promotes travel to United States destinations, including areas not traditionally visited, highlighting the United States as a premier travel destination. The legislation is a bipartisan effort that had 51 cosponsors in the last Congress.
The bill creates a nationally coordinated travel promotion campaign through a public-private partnership to increase international travel to the United States. It creates a Corporation for Travel Promotion, an independent, nonprofit corporation, to run the travel promotion campaign. The program will be funded equally by a small fee paid by foreign travelers visiting the United States and matching contributions from the travel industry.
Dorgan introduced the legislation in conjunction with National Tourism Week, which runs from May 9 to17.
