U.S. May Open Up Its Doors a Little Bit More

The United States may soon be on the map, along with many other countries, as a nation with a tourism industry that touts its attractions to the world, generating revenue, jobs aplenty and meeting business in the process – pending approval by the U.S. Senate of the Travel Promotion Act.

As of June 10, the Senate was set to meet and vote on a bill, which for the first time would create a public-private partnership to promote travel to the U.S. from other countries – at no expense to taxpayers.

According to the U.S. Travel Assn., the bill will be paid for by private sector contributions and a $10 fee for foreign visitors without a U.S. visa.

As of press time, the bill still had not been voted on by the U.S. Senate.

Steven Hacker, president of the Intl. Assn. of Exhibitions and Events, which has long supported the bill, said there is no question that it will pass. “We are going to get this passed,” he added. “It's simply a matter of whether it passes in this session of Congress or the next.”

According to Greg Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Assn., which produces Intl. CES, ranked No. 2 on the 2009 TSW 200, “the bill is an important first step in increasing the visibility of the U.S. as a destination for overseas visitors.”

If the bill is passed, the U.S. likely will attract 1.6 million new visitors, generating $4 billion in economic impact and $321 million in federal tax revenue each year, according to Oxford Economics estimations provided to the U.S. Travel Assn.

In addition, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the country would reduce budget deficits by $425 million from 2010 to 2019.

The act would create nearly 40,000 new jobs for American workers in its first year, according to the U.S. Travel Assn. This could help the industry, considering in 2008, according to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the U.S. lost nearly 200,000 travel-related jobs and, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, 247,000 more could be lost this year.

The act also will address a decline in tourism to the U.S. Since 9/11, the country has lost 46 million visitors, $140 billion in visitor spending and $23 billion in tax revenue, according to the U.S. Travel Assn.

Geoffrey Freeman, senior vice president of public affairs at the U.S. Travel Assn., said the U.S. shifted into a nation that is not as welcoming as it was prior to Sept. 11, and as one that has put very little effort into promoting itself as a destination.

“(The U.S.) allowed a perception to take hold that visitors weren't as welcome, and in an environment where travelers have new options, new opportunities, new destinations and other people fighting for their business, it's only common sense that those who are fighting for their business would be the beneficiaries of their business,” he added. “So many meetings, conventions, other types of programs in this flat world benefit from international visitors, and, if (the U.S.) can improve the prospects of international visitors getting in the country, it will have a beneficial effect on meetings.”

Many show managers with a large international draw of attendees at their shows said they support the bill and hope it will pass.

Peter Eelman, the Assn. for Manufacturing Technology's vice president of exhibitions and communications, said the AMT's Intl. Manufacturing Technology Show, ranked No. 4 on the 2009 TSW 200, only could benefit from the bill's passage.

“There's no question that any improvement we can make that would make the U.S. a more attractive destination can only help our shows,” he added. “The world view of the U.S. is in a better place than it was when my last show occurred, and that's good. I'd like to reinforce that with continual support so that the world continues to think better and better of the U.S. and wants to come here. I think that's very important.”

Megan Tanel, the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers vice president of exhibitions and events, said the bill's potential affect upon AEM's triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG, ranked No. 1 on the 2009 TSW 200, is that the legislation could strengthen key relationships in the bill's targeted visa-waiver countries.

“We felt it was long overdue, and we supported taking action,” she added. “AEM has for years been raising concerns about the need to balance security with access for buyers and visitors. It seems unfair that foreign competitors should benefit when potential buyers cannot visit our shows, or when they have trouble getting visas to come see equipment in action.”

Tanel said, “The biggest challenge is the visa process and the large number of denials. We lose customers and sales to those who cannot make it here from countries like India, China and some Eastern European countries. By improving the visa process, we will improve the tradeshow business.”

Leading up to its scheduled appearance before the Senate, the bill unanimously was approved May 20 by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, led by Senators Byron Dorgan and John Ensign.

Similar legislation, the Travel Promotion Act of 2008, was passed by voice vote by the U.S. House of Representatives in September last year, after it was introduced by U.S. Reps. William Delahunt and Roy Blunt. The bill had been co-sponsored by 243 additional House members. It did not go up for a vote by the U.S. Senate by the time it adjourned.