Labor & Economic Development Committee

The following action calendar resolution was passed out of the Labor & Economic Development Standing Committee during the 2008 Spring Forum and was approved at the Forum Business Meeting on April 26, 2008.

NCSL Supports Travel Promotion and Tourism

WHEREAS, travel and tourism is a powerful economic generator in all 50 states, accounting for $740 billion in expenditures, $110 billion in local, state and federal taxes and 7.5 million jobs in 2007; and

WHEREAS, travel is America’s leading service sector export, generating $107.9 billion in 2007 from international travelers; and

WHEREAS, travel and tourism creates one of the nation’s only balance of trade surpluses (valued at $8.3 billion in 2007); and

WHEREAS, the world travel market is expanding, but the U.S. share has declined 35 percent over the past 15 years; and

WHEREAS, travel to the United States from overseas destinations has yet to rebound to pre-9/11 levels; and

WHEREAS, since 9/11 the United States is often perceived to no longer be a friendly and welcoming destination, which has cost America $150 billion in lost visitor spending and 250,000 American jobs – losses that affect every state in the country; and

WHEREAS, international travelers are 74 percent more likely to have a favorable opinion of America and Americans after having visited; and

WHEREAS, legislatures in all 50 states appreciate the value of travel and tourism and currently operate programs to promote their states to travelers domestically and internationally; and

WHEREAS, all major industrialized nations except the United States have national tourism policies and spend significant funds on promoting their destinations overseas, and, in turn, see substantial returns on their investments; and

WHEREAS, the facilitation of secure, yet efficient, travel across American borders must be a priority of the federal government; and

WHEREAS, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) policy on Arts, Culture and Economic Development recognizes the importance of tourism to state economic development and service sector employment and encourages the federal government to work collaboratively with the states to ensure the vitality of this sector of the economy; and

WHEREAS, the NCSL policy on The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative reiterates the importance of tourism to states' economies and acknowledges the dramatic effects that restrictions and impediments to cross-border travel can have on America's domestic tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Dorgan of North Dakota and U.S. Representative Delahunt of Massachusetts have introduced companion bills in Congress each entitled the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, which creates a public-private partnership to educate travelers about U.S. travel policies and promote the United States as a destination of choice; and

WHEREAS, the Travel Promotion Act of 2007 will benefit every state, create jobs, enhance national security, contribute to a favorable balance of trade for the U.S. economy, and improve our national image around the world; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Conference of State Legislatures now calls upon the U.S. Congress to promptly pass the Travel Promotion Act of 2007 (S. 1661/H.R. 3232) and thus create a public-private partnership that will restore the U.S. to its place as the world's premier international visitor destination; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSL calls upon Congress and the federal government to ensure that federal travel and tourism promotion efforts work in concert and collaboratively with state trade and tourism promotion efforts to prevent duplication, confusion, and preemption; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSL urges the federal government to implement reasonable visa and WHTI policy reforms -- including but not limited to the reduction of interview wait times, the use of advanced technology for visa interviews and the strengthening and expansion of the Visa Waiver Program -- so that potential tourists are not needlessly discouraged from visiting the United States while simultaneously ensuring homeland security.

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For further information about the Committee or any questions about NCSL's policy process, please contact Diana Hinton Noel or Jeremy Meadows in NCSL's Washington office.

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