Government Relations
Domestic Policy Issues
U.S. Travel Association's Domestic Policy Positions
Air Traffic Control Modernization
Currently, the nation’s air transportation system is stretched thin, handling 750 million passengers each year, leading to congestion and delays that frustrate and discourage air travelers. The number of passengers traveling by air will likely increase to1 billion by 2015, which will lead to ever-increasing levels of congestion unless the air transportation system is fundamentally transformed. At the core of the problem is that the current air traffic control system is outdated and inefficient, relying on World War II-era radar and technologies.
Business, Meetings & Events Travel
When business meetings and events are cancelled, it’s the hourly-wage workers – not corporate CEOs – who pay the highest price. Meetings, events and performance incentive travel in the United States are responsible for almost 15 percent of all domestic travel. Generating 1 million jobs and $27 billion in wages, meetings and events can provide a solution to our economic woes. Meetings and events support local communities and working families around the country – something we cannot afford to overlook as we rebuild our economy.
Climate Change
The U.S. travel community includes airlines, bus and rental car companies, cruise lines, hotels, state and local destination organizations, attractions and other diverse travel and tourism-related businesses and associations that both impact and are impacted by climate change. As a result, the travel community as a whole and its sectors individually are committed to taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore mitigation measures needed to address climate change impacts.
Highway Transportation
More than 80 percent of all leisure and business travel occurs on our nation’s highways. Guaranteeing national mobility and ensuring travelers reach their intended destinations safely and on time requires significant investment in our surface transportation system.
Pandemics & Emergency Response
The U.S. travel industry is uniquely affected by emergency situations such as the H1N1 Flu pandemic and similar viruses due to the potential impact they could have on domestic and international travel patterns. The impact of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in Canada in 2003 and the H1N1 outbreak in Mexico in the spring of 2009 both serve as lessons for why the U.S. travel community and all levels of government must be closely aligned as information is shared and travel policy decisions are made in response to such pandemics.
Public Lands
Our nation’s public lands provide many opportunities to help show and tell America’s story, and the National Park System, national forests and historic monuments continue to be a major draw for domestic and international visitors. The challenge is balancing conservation and preservation with accessibility and promotion to minimize our impact on the environment. In addition, maintenance backlogs and a lack of funds are other problems facing our public lands today.
Rail Travel
Rail travel provides an efficient and affordable alternative to flying or driving in cases where congestion, hassles and delays may make a trip more difficult and costly – particularly for shorter trips of 500 miles or less. The development of high-speed electric rail may also be a “greener” option for travel in terms of reducing energy demand and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Amtrak operates intercity rail service in 46 states and the District of Columbia and serves as a vital transportation link between cities all across the United States. In addition to Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration has designated 11 high-speed rail corridors in more densely populated regions across the United States.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Screening Reform
Travelers passing through U.S. airports are often frustrated by the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) passenger and baggage screening process due to long, inefficient lines, occasionally poor customer service and inconsistent screening policies. The introduction of self-select lanes based on a traveler’s familiarity with the security process, however, is an example of improved efficiency in the TSA process.
Travel Taxes
Most major travel products and services (accommodations, air travel, car rentals, restaurant meals, etc.) are taxed by some level of government, with most taxes being levied by local and state governments. Over the past few decades, the taxes and fees applied to accommodations and car rentals in particular have risen as local and state governments have reached into travelers’ pockets to balance budgets or pay for local priorities.
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