Travel Promotion Act of 2009, S. 1023 Passes Senate Committee
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation approved S. 1023, the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. The bill creates a non-profit ‘Corporation for Travel Promotion’ under a public-private partnership with a budget of up to $200 million annually to attract international travelers to the United States.
The Travel Promotion Act specifies that travel promotion would be paid for by private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers from countries that do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States. The legislation requires no contributions from U.S. taxpayers.
The bill would help raise $4 billion in spending from 1.6 million additional international visitors, spending on average $4,500 each. This increase in economic activity would create 40,000 new jobs and raise $321 million in federal tax revenue.
The Travel Promotion Act of 2009, S. 1023, is sponsored by Sen Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and has 18 co-sponsors so far, including Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV).
In a press statement, “Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said that “This much-needed legislation will help the United States to create thousands of new jobs and welcome billions in new spending by international visitors. Thanks to Senators Dorgan and Ensign, the United States is one step closer to joining nearly every developed nation in the world in competing for visitors, strengthening its economy and enhancing its image.”
You can read the full text of the bill here - S. 1023 - Full text
Posted on May 22nd, 2009 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News
[…] Approved by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on May 20, 2009. […]
Travellers from wealthy countries that now belong to the visa waiver program will be the ones who will get to pay that US$10 fee. This is not exactly a welcome mat, is it ? It would be a good Travel Promotion scheme if the visa waiver participants ( who have the money to spend ) were given a coupon book of discounts for hotels and shopping centers at the point of entry rather than slapped a fine for coming to the USA.
Hopi - travelers from non visa waiver countries pay a heck of a lot more for the visa. The least that people who’re just allowed to waltz into the US without having to go through all that can do is to pay $10. And that fee will help make it easier for everyone - from all countries, to enter and visit the US.
But this is actually a moot point, since the Travel Promotion Act got shot down by the Senate earlier this week.