US takes ‘critical step’ to boost tourism promotion
An Office of Travel Promotion to increase the number of international travellers to the US should be established, a Senate committee has agreed.
The organisation would work alongside a non-profit travel promotion corporation with a fund generated by visa waiver fess.
The initiatives as part of a Travel Promotion Act 2007 were agreed by a Senate commission on commerce, science and transportation following months of discussions.
The travel promotion offie would also co-ordinate actrivities with the US Departments of State and Homeland Security to improve the country’s visa and entry processes for international travellers.
The measures were welcomed by Jay Rasulo, chairman of the Travel Industry Association of America and chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
“This programme would fill a vital gap in our current strategies to attract more visitors, and it would pay for itself many times over,” he said. “It will also serve a larger national purpose, by helping America win hearts and minds around the world.”
TIA president and CEO Roger Dow said the passing of the Travel Promotion Act “reaffirmed the critical importance of international travel to the United States, and the need not only to continue fixing remaining challenges with the visa and entry process, but to actually begin to issue an explicit welcome to prospective visitors all around the world.
“This is a critical step towards rolling out the welcome mat for international visitors.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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