Today’s hearing is the second in a series of travel promotion hearings designed to examine how the United States can remain competitive internationally in the travel industry.  Generating approximately 8.3 million jobs, the U.S. travel industry both serves as a major employer and constitutes an indispensable part of our economy.  According to the Department of Commerce in 2006, international tourism spending in the United States comprised $107.4 billion.  Despite these seemingly impressive numbers, the country has seen a decrease in market share of international travelers.  In order to preserve this vital sector of our economy, we must work with expediency to reverse the decline. 

 

In the first travel promotions hearing, we heard from the private sector of the problems that the travel and tourism industry face today. The Discover America Partnership pointed to a complex visa application process, an intimidating and often bewildering experience for travelers at ports of entry, and a tarnished reputation around the world as factors that undermine international travelers’ desire or ability to visit our great country.  In addition, the Partnership advocated for the creation of a nationally coordinated travel promotion initiative.  An initiative that would both highlight destinations throughout America and inform international travelers about how best to navigate the U.S. visa and entry process.

 

While in the past few years, the Commerce Department worked on limited promotions to Japan and the United Kingdom, the Department has lacked the resources to conduct a comprehensive and coordinated effort.  I believe that a more aggressive

approach is warranted.  Since September 11^th, the United States’ market share of international travelers has significantly decreased.  The Commerce Department working in concert with industry experts should work to rebuild America’s place in the travel market. 

 

In doing so, we need not compromise our national security.  We can strengthen security at our borders without closing our doors to friendly travelers.  In addition, creating a more welcoming climate for new arrivals would be a boon to diplomacy. 

Travelers overwhelmingly leave this country with a better impression of America and its people.  They take this goodwill back to their native land and raise the esteem of the United States overseas.

 

In fairness to our federal agencies, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security have not only recognized the need to improve the entry process via technological efficiency, but they have also created a framework for facilitating international tourism while maintaining national security.  They have begun to implement the goals established in the Rice-Chertoff Joint Vision in a thoughtful way, but I believe that more work can be done.

 

Today we will hear testimony from two panels of witnesses in considering how to attract more international visitors without jeopardizing our safety.  The first panel consists of government representatives from the Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security.  The second panel consists of industry leaders from Hawaii, North Dakota, Alaska, and South Carolina.  We will hear about their respective experiences in attracting visitors to their states and about how the federal government could better serve them. 

 

Based on the testimony we hear today and what we heard in the first hearing, I plan to introduce legislation to reinvigorate America’s tourism industry.