Travel group terms Obama plan short-sided
An effort by the Obama Administration to go green may cause the US travel industry to lose green, said the US Travel Association.
Calling a White House plan “short-sighted and counterproductive,” the US Travel Association protested against an effort by the Obama Administration to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions through cutting business travel by government employees.
“The effort announced by President Obama aims to reduce pollution from indirect sources, such as federal-employee travel and commuting, by 13 percent by 2010,” according to PeterGreenberg.com.
According to White House figures, the combined reductions to federal employee travel would be the equivalent of removing emissions from 235 million barrels of oil.
US Travel, however, is emphasizing that less government participation in meetings, trade shows and other types of business travel will lead to job losses for American workers employed in the travel industry.
With around two million Americans working in the business travel industry, a decline in business travel would lead to job losses in an already tough economic climate. The travel industry has already lost more than 400,000 jobs over the last two years, and the BP oil spill may cause thousands more travel industry workers to become unemployed, the US Travel Association said.
Instead of cutting business trips, US Travel has encouraged the Obama Administration to work with the travel community to promote sustainable travel practices.
US Travel also cited an Oxford Economics study which found that government travel produces a more than 5 to 1 return on investment.
By David Wilkening
David
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements