Travel Promotion Act

May 18, 2009

The Duluth News Tribune: Our view - Government help doesn't have to equal bailout

Excerpt: “Here we go again, right? Another industry in trouble, this time the travel and tourism trade, and a congressional hearing is convened.

But the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 — which a Senate commerce committee gathered to examine last week, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota as its chairwoman — wouldn't be your typical $100 million of free-wheeling government spending...the money wouldn't come straight from taxpayers. According to Klobuchar's office, the effort would be funded with contributions from the travel and tourism industry itself and with a proposed $10 fee on foreign visitors when they obtain electronic authorization to come to the U.S.

In other words, government help this time won't necessarily be equal to a government handout...

With Memorial Day, the end of school and summer vacation season on the doorstep, can the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 help? Anything that plugs closer-to-home vacations would be welcomed in Duluth, on the North Shore, and at any of the Northland's other hot spots.

Likewise, ideas to bolster economic recovery without plunging the nation any deeper into debt would be welcomed by taxpayers from coast to coast.”