U.S. Senate bill 1661, the so-called "Travel Promotion Act," has received its 50th co-sponsor in U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the Travel Industry Association (TIA) announced last week. The sponsorship moves the bill, which would establish a public-private partnership with which to attract millions of overseas visitors to the United States, one step closer to passage by Congress.
"Congress understands that travel promotion will boost the economy and create thousands of new jobs," TIA President and CEO Roger Dow said in a statement. "With Senator Lugar's support, America is one step closer to improving its economy and strengthening its image in the world."
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recently reported, a companion bill to Senate bill 1661, House bill 3232, has received 245 sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, it would more effectively communicate U.S. security and entry policies as part of a multi-million dollar destination marketing effort in foreign countries, travelers from which contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year.
According to TIA, the United States has experienced a rapid decline in overseas travelers since Sept. 11, when increased security measures began sending the message that travel into the country by foreigners was difficult or undesirable. As a result, it suggests, the country has lost 46 million potential visitors, $140 billion in potential visitor spending, $23 billion in potential tax revenue and 340,000 potential jobs for Americans in the travel and hospitality industries.
If passed, the Travel Promotion Act will generate funds from the private sector and from foreign travelers in the form of a modest fee charged to those that do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States.
According to Oxford Economics, TIA reports, a $100 million travel promotion program would result in millions more overseas visitors to the United States and generate at least $8 billion per year in new visitor spending, not to mention $850 million per year in new federal tax revenue.