Travel Groups Submit Economic Proposal to President Obama

A letter delivered to President Barack Obama, signed by two dozen travel and tourism groups last week, offered seven travel and tourism-related recommendations for the incoming administration to spur on the U.S. economy.

The proposal, “How to Fuel the U.S. Economy Through Travel & Tourism,” was delivered to Obama’s aides, according to the National Tour Association, which spearheaded the initiative.

The first three recommendations were intended to be included in the government’s economic stimulus plan. They include the creation of new grant opportunities to help create tourism jobs, for tourism promotion and development and to preserve and enhance cultural heritage sites.

The other two suggestions are the passage of the Travel Promotion Act of 2008 and stepped-up federal funding for national parks and public lands.

The additional recommendations intended for short-term response from the incoming administration are the establishment of an executive office of travel and tourism, the creation of more user-friendly visa regulations for U.S. entry and exit, full funding of the 2009 Highway Reauthorization Bill and other measures to increase ease and efficiency of travel on the country’s highways and railroads, and the dropping of travel bans to foreign countries.

In addition to the NTA, other organizations that signed the letter and proposal include the United States Tour Operators Association, the Cruise Lines International Association, ASTA and the American Bus Association.

In the end, several of the organizations did not sign the final letter, including the U.S. Travel Association (formerly the Travel Industry Association), AAA, the Air Transport Association of America, the International Air Transport Association, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the Association of Travel Marketing Executives and the National Business Travel Association.