In conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week, the travel industry got its legislative agenda back on track on Tuesday, when the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.).
The bill is nearly identical to the version that passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. It would create a Corporation for Travel Promotion that would develop a $100 million international advertising and educational campaign to promote travel to the U.S. and communicate information about U.S. security and entry policies to overseas consumers and travel marketers.
The expenditures would be funded by contributions from the industry plus a proposed $10 fee imposed on foreign visitors from Visa Waiver countries who are now required to obtain an electronic authorization before arrival. The industry contributions would be in cash or "in-kind" services.
The 2009 version of the bill calls for an 11-member board of directors for the proposed corporation, down from 14 members, and slightly changes the industry segments that are to be represented.
Among other things, the bill adds a requirement that one member have "appropriate expertise in the intercity passenger railroad business." It also drops an earlier plan to create a new undersecretary post for travel and tourism in the Commerce Department.
