30 September 2008

US to create travel marketing fund

WASHINGTON, DC - The US House of Representatives has passed the Travel Promotion Act of 2008 in a bid to create thousands of new jobs and spur economic growth nationwide.

The move is designed to attract millions of additional international travellers to the United States who, since 9/11, have found ever-changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage to be a deterrent to visiting the US.

The bill must now pass the Senate.

The Travel Promotion Act establishes a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate U.S. security and entry policies.

The bill specifies that travel promotion would be paid for - at no cost to US taxpayers - by private sector contributions and a fee on foreign travellers who do not pay US$131 for a visa to enter the United States.

"This is a historic, unprecedented achievement for the travel community," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Industry Association.

"In response to the tragic events of 9/11, the government put in place needed security measures. This legislation creates a public-private partnership to ensure proper communication of those measures and attract millions of additional international visitors."