Travel Promotion Act of 2009--Continued
Floor Speech
TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT OF 2009--Continued -- (Senate - September 09, 2009)
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UNDER SECRETARY FOR TRAVEL PROMOTION
Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I appreciate Senator Inouye and Senator Dorgan's leadership on promoting tourism to the United States. Thanks to their commitment, the Senate is on the verge of passing legislation that is critical to our economy. Although it provides almost 8 million American jobs, travel and tourism have not received the prioritization in our government that they merit. I am pleased that we are creating an Office of Travel Promotion and hope in the future we will take a step further and elevate the role of tourism promotion at the Department of Commerce. Other governments around the world have tourism departments headed by Cabinet-level officials. This stature gives them the clout to advocate for pro-tourism, pro-economy policies, and cut through the redtape to implement those policies.
Tourism is vitally important to New Hampshire. Last year, tourism in New Hampshire supported approximately 67,000 direct full-time and part-time jobs. I know from my own experience that having a high-level travel promotion authority produces results. When I was Governor, I elevated our State's Office of Travel and Tourism within our State government because I recognized the importance of promoting the travel industry and ensuring that we have a strong advocate for traveler-friendly policies in our State government.
Under the guidance of this high-level division, the travel economy in New Hampshire has increased substantially since 2001. Despite a nationwide lull in tourism, spending by travelers to New Hampshire has increased over 33 percent, creating over a billion dollars more in economic growth. State revenues from travel have increased by over $100 million, providing an important boost to our budget.
I believe we should replicate New Hampshire's success in promoting tourism at the national level. This is why I support the creation of an Under Secretary for Travel Promotion.
Mr. INOUYE. I appreciate the Senator's kind words for me. I wish to express my agreement with her on the creation of an Under Secretary position in the Department of Commerce who oversees the tourism industry. I have advocated for the Under Secretary position in the past, and continue to support its creation for the reasons you described.
The State of Hawaii's economy relies heavily on travel and tourism, and welcomes visitors from across this great Nation and from around the world. International travelers to the United States generate a tremendous amount of economic activity. The Department of Commerce found that in 2008, total U.S. international travel receipts were $142 billion. International tourism provided support for over 800,000 U.S. jobs, $30 billion in payroll, and $17 billion in tax revenue. The economic benefit of this industry should be represented, and requires policy-related coordination. An Under Secretary would provide that voice. This is especially true when the U.S. engages in international negotiations around travel and tourism policy. It is important that the United States is represented by an appropriately ranked official, with the same authority as his or her counterparts.
Mrs. SHAHEEN. My friend from Hawaii makes an excellent point. Although the bill does not include an Under Secretary, I believe it is important for the Secretaries of Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security to ensure that the United States is represented internationally to discuss travel and tourism policy issues. In particular, these Departments should work to remove barriers to travel, expand market access for tourism industries, and promote tourism to the U.S. Does my colleague agree with me on this point?
Mr. INOUYE. I do. I look forward to working with the Senator on this issue in the future, and with Senator Bingaman who has also been a strong advocate for this issue.
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