OVERVIEW

On February 25, 2010, the Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act with a strong bipartisan vote of 78-18, and President Obama signed it into law on March 4. This legislation creates a public-private partnership to promote the United States abroad and communicate directly with international travelers about U.S. entry policies and requirements.

The United States welcomed 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors in 2009 than in 2000 – remaining below pre-9/11 levels of overseas visitors for the ninth consecutive year – despite a weak dollar that made the U.S. a travel bargain and 46 million more people around the world traveling long-haul. The failure of the United States to simply keep pace with the growth in international long-haul travel has cost our economy an estimated $509 billion in total spending and 441,000 American jobs which could have been created or sustained in the years over the past decade. In addition to the economic benefits of overseas travelers, those who have visited the United States are 74 percent more likely to have a favorable opinion of the country than those who have not visited, generating diplomacy though "people-to-people" interaction.

U.S. TRAVEL POSITION

The U.S. Travel Association congratulates and thanks Congress and President Obama for recently passing and signing into law the Travel Promotion Act, which will create America's first-ever travel promotion program. An effective travel promotion program will:

1. Clearly explain U.S. security policies;
2. Reverse negative perceptions of the entry process into the United States;
3. Maximize economic and diplomatic benefits of overseas travel to all 50 states and the District of Columbia; and
4. Promote the United States as a premier travel destination.

This program, which will combine private sector expertise with public sector accountability, will bring millions more travelers to the United States and go a long way toward creating new jobs just when America's economy needs them most. Oxford Economics estimates that a well executed travel promotion program will yield 1.6 million new international visitors each year, equating to $4 billion in new spending and $321 million in new federal tax revenue annually. It is further expected to create 40,000 U.S. jobs. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office reported that the Travel Promotion Act will reduce the federal deficit by $425 million over 10 years. These will be no small accomplishments during a time when unemployment is at record highs, the economy remains on shaky grounds, and the national deficit continues to soar.

NEW RESEARCH

U.S. Travel has developed a new report titled The Lost Decade that shows the failure of the United States to keep pace with the growth in international long-haul travel worldwide and how much it has cost our economy. This research shows what the United States has to gain by attracting more long-haul travelers.