Travel Promotion Act

May 14, 2009

Orlando Sentinel: Travel Promotion Act would give tourism a needed boost - By Jeff Clarke

Excerpt: “Anyone who has traveled in the past six months has noticed that airport terminals and hotel lobbies aren't as crowded as they used to be. Even with the capacity reductions made by the airlines, many airplanes are flying with empty seats. It shows in the travel and tourism statistics for leading business and leisure destinations like Orlando. Attendance at conventions and trade shows was down more than 21 percent during the first three months of 2009, according to the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Occupancy rates for business and convention lodging were down more than 17 percent during the same period to 65 percent, and the number of overnight visitors for conventions and meetings is expected to decline 16 percent this year to 3.1 million. The number of domestic and international travelers flying into Orlando International Airport declined 17 percent during the first quarter of 2009 compared with the first quarter of 2008, according to data from travel-agent bookings. This is a slight acceleration from a nearly 12 percent year-over-year decline in the fourth quarter of 2008. And Orlando isn't alone. The same story is repeated in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Boston, Atlanta and many other cities. We're in the midst of the worst travel recession since 9-11 and the longest downturn in many years… we should be doing a lot more to encourage international travelers to visit America…international travelers spend an average of $4,400 each per trip -- the kind of economic stimulus that can benefit Orlando and a lot of other communities. The U.S., however, is one of the only developed nations without a national organization to promote travel and tourism -- and it shows in the decline of overseas travel to America since 9-11. We don't have to wait for economic recovery to begin to reverse this troubling trend. We can pass the Travel Promotion Act.”