Travel and Tourism Submit Stimulus Plan to Obama
Just days ago, on the heels of the submission to then President-elect Obama’s transition team of seven recommendations stemming from the recent travel and tourism sector economic summit, ASTA President and Chair Chris Russo issued the following statement:
ASTA is extremely pleased to have been a part of this unprecedented summit, where associations from across the industry came together to promote our common agenda—focusing on the inclusion in the new administration’s stimulus legislation of key elements needed to restore growth in American’s travel and tourism industry. We are proud of the final outcome and thank the National Tour Association for its leadership and hard work in putting this together. Each of the participating organizations has its own agenda, requiring compromise all around. After intense discussions the final product is something of which all the signatories can be proud.
I am especially pleased to see that two key ASTA immediate-stimulus proposals were accepted by the group and that a third, the re-examination of travel bans, is among the ideas put forward for near-term consideration.
ASTA’s stimulus proposals include the restoration of a 2001 program of direct low interest rate loans to small businesses through the Small Business Administration and the creation of an investment tax credit program for small business investments in information-related technologies, which will be crucial for travel agencies to compete effectively in the years ahead.
ASTA has a long-standing policy of opposition to government restrictions on travel as an instrument of political pressure and is encouraged by early indications that President-Elect Obama will quickly begin to remove the obstacles to travel to Cuba. ASTA will continue to advocate for full liberalization of travel, and travel-related financial restraints, in all restricted markets.
To view the full set of recommendations, please visit ASTA.org.
Karen
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026