The day has finally come for a final vote on the Travel Promotion Act. Introduced by Senators Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), the legislation will create a public-private partnership that will work to attract international travelers to the United States.
Every developed country in the world has such promotional campaigns to attract foreign visitors, according to Geoff Freedman, senior vice president at the U.S. Travel Association. The United States is being left behind.
"The United States is the world's anomaly," Freeman recently told the Associated Press. "And the results speak for themselves."
According to the U.S. Travel Association, changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage have deterred foreign travelers from visiting the United States since the September 11 attacks. In fact, the country saw 634,000 fewer overseas visitors in 2008 than in 2000 despite 56 million more global overseas travelers worldwide.
The act specifies that promotion efforts will be funded by private sector contributions and a $10 foreign fee paid by foreign travelers who do not pay for visas to enter the country. Oxford Economics estimates that a well-executed promotion program could attract 1.6 million new international visitors and generate $4 billion in economic stimulus.
Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $425 million over the next 10 years.
Every developed country in the world has such promotional campaigns to attract foreign visitors, according to Geoff Freedman, senior vice president at the U.S. Travel Association. The United States is being left behind.
"The United States is the world's anomaly," Freeman recently told the Associated Press. "And the results speak for themselves."
According to the U.S. Travel Association, changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage have deterred foreign travelers from visiting the United States since the September 11 attacks. In fact, the country saw 634,000 fewer overseas visitors in 2008 than in 2000 despite 56 million more global overseas travelers worldwide.
The act specifies that promotion efforts will be funded by private sector contributions and a $10 foreign fee paid by foreign travelers who do not pay for visas to enter the country. Oxford Economics estimates that a well-executed promotion program could attract 1.6 million new international visitors and generate $4 billion in economic stimulus.
Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $425 million over the next 10 years.
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