Association Events

Travel and hospitality professionals rejoice! The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Travel Promotion Act by a vote of 358 to 66. This legislation will create a public-private partnership that will work to attract international travelers to the United States.

"The need for travel promotion has never been greater," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "As the recent vote of the International Olympic Committee demonstrated, the United States must invest in better explaining its security policies and attracting foreign travelers. The Travel Promotion Act is a 'win-win' for our economic and diplomatic efforts."

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.

The U.S. Senate passed identical legislation in September. However, an additional Senate vote is required and expected to happen in the coming days.