TOURISM PROMOTION BILL BECOMES LAW   

The Travel Promotion Act (S.1023/H.R.2935) introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) in the Senate and Representative Bill Delahunt (D-MA) in the House has been signed into law.  

The AHC supported this legislation and believes many of its provisions will benefit equine tourism. Equine tourism is a growing and diverse segment of the horse industry.    Examples of equine tourism include individuals traveling to see the World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Derby as well as the family who takes a pack trip in Wyoming. Because Equine tourism encompasses so many parts of the industry including recreation, showing and racing, any effort to promote the U.S. to foreign tourist should be beneficial to the entire horse industry. 

Travel Promotion Act of 2009

The purpose the Travel Promotion Act is to market the U.S. as a tourist destination to people around the world.  It will create a non-profit Corporation for Travel Promotion that will be responsible for explaining U.S entry policies and providing useful information to foreign tourists and others interested in traveling to the United States. 

The Act requires the Corporation for Travel Promotion to “identify opportunities and strategies to promote tourism to rural and urban areas equally.”  A travel promotion fund requiring non-federal matching funds will also be established.

The law will also create a new Office of Travel Promotion in the Department of Commerce.  This office will support and encourage the development of programs to increase the number of international visitors to the United States.  In general this office will be responsible for disseminating information to international visitors about U.S. entry procedures.  Additionally it would collect data on the number of international visitors to each State and support State, regional, and private sector initiatives to promote travel to and within the United States.

If you have any questions please call the AHC.