A bill introduced in the US Congress will establish up to $US200m for overseas promotion of the US and if passed, the U.S. government will launch for the first time a $100 million marketing campaign to encourage inbound tourism.
The Travel Promotion Act of 2007 mirrors similar legislation now pending in the Senate.
The bill would do the following:
** Establish a public-private entity that would work with the Dept. of Commerce to develop the promotional campaign.
** Create a $100 million travel promotion fund that would be financed partly by contributions from the private sector and by a $10 fee paid by travelers from the participating countries in the Visa Waiver Program.
** Permit travelers from qualified countries to enter the U.S. without a visa and visit for up to 90 days. The countries reciprocate by extending the same privileges to U.S. travelers.
“With this legislation, if our industry can raise less than one-tenth of 1% of what we receive from international visitors each year, our country will have $200 million each year to change perceptions of America around the world and compete with other countries for travelers,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association, in a statement.
Report by The Mole
