Ayotte-Backed Legislation to Promote Tourism Advances in Commerce Committee

Press Release

The Senate Commerce Committee today approved bipartisan legislation backed by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to help boost New Hampshire's tourism industry. Ayotte is an original co-sponsor of the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act (S. 2250), which would reauthorize Brand USA, a public-private partnership created to market international travel to the United States without using taxpayer dollars. The bill is supported by the New Hampshire Travel Council, the NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development, the Lakes Region Tourism Association, the Monadnock Travel Council, the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, the NH Lodging and Restaurant Association, and Discover New England.

"International visitors boost our state's tourism industry, which is an important source of jobs in New Hampshire. I've worked to renew Brand USA, which doesn't use taxpayer dollars, to allow for the continuation of successful marketing efforts to attract visitors from overseas to our state," said Senator Ayotte, who serves on the Senate Commerce Committee. "In addition to driving tourism, I'm also pleased that any revenue collected through Brand USA' in excess of $100 million goes toward reducing our nation's deficit. Having helped secure committee approval of this legislation, I will press for a vote in the full Senate to pass this bill."

Jeffrey Rose, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, said, "As travel and tourism is the second largest industry in New Hampshire, we want to thank Senator Ayotte for her support of the Travel Promotion Act. Brand USA has provided more opportunities for New Hampshire to have a larger presence in the international market."

In Fiscal Year 2013, Brand USA generated more than one million additional international visitors to the U.S. who spent $3.4 billion, boosting economic growth and supporting jobs in communities across the country. The Brand USA partnership is funded by international visitors and contributions - not U.S. taxpayers. Half of its budget comes from the private sector through cash and in-kind contributions and the rest of the budget - up to a maximum of $100 million - is funded by a fee assessed on visa-free international visitors screened by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

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