Travel Promotion Act Announcement
February 26, 2010
Dear NTA Members,
Congressman Sam Farr (D-California) today introduced HR-4676, the Travel Regional Investment Partnership Act, or the TRIP Act, which will provide US$50 million in matching federal money to U.S. destinations for their marketing efforts. This legislation will build on the success achieved last night when the U.S. Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which calls for an overseas travel promotion program for the United States.
NTA met with 40 other organizations at the Economic Summit on Travel and Tourism in December 2008 to develop recommendations on tourism issues for President Obama’s transition teams. One of the prominent issues was the passage of the Travel Promotion Act, and NTA has actively supported this legislation over the years.
With a focus on domestic marketing only, the TRIP Act complements the Travel Promotion Act. This new legislation directs the Secretary of Commerce to create a grant program designed to promote domestic regional tourism growth and new domestic tourism market creation. The bill (H.R. 4676) authorizes US$10 million annually for five years in competitive grants, to range between US$100,000 and US$1 million each, to accomplish those goals.
ACTION REQUESTED: NTA urges its members to contact their U.S. representatives to add their sponsorships to H.R. 4676. Representatives should contact Tom Tucker in Representative Sam Farr’s office at tom.tucker@mail.house.gov to add their support. NTA members who contact their U.S. representatives should notify NTA Public Affairs Advocate Steve Richer, CTP, at ntawashington@gmail.com with the response.
Related to the Travel Promotion Act, Richer has been appointed to a task force to develop a road map for the soon-to-be created Corporation for Travel Promotion. This committee will send recommendations to the Department of Commerce on the implementation of the TPA so it can be fully effective after President Obama signs the legislation.
Thank yous go to the leadership in the House and Senate that helped move forward the TPA legislation: lead sponsors Senator Dorgan (D-North Dakota), Senator Ensign (R-Nevada), Representative Delahunt (D-Massachusetts) and Representative Blunt (R-Missouri), as well as Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-Nevada) and co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus Representative Farr (D-California).
According to the U.S Travel Association, the TPA calls for an overseas travel promotion program that is projected to yield millions of new visitors, US$4 billion in new economic stimulus, 40,000 new American jobs and US$320 million in new federal tax revenue. The Congressional Budget Office reports that the bill will reduce the deficit by US$425 million and increase revenues by US$135 million over the next 10 years.
NTA encourages you to share the news of the passage of the Travel Promotion Act using the following resources from U.S. Travel. Press Release Key Messages
Warm Regards,
Lisa Simon, CTP
NTA President