LEXINGTON, Kentucky – The introduction of the TRIP Act in the US Senate comes as welcome news to NTA. The Travel Regional Investment Partnership Act helps US destinations promote domestic tourism, which supports 7.7 million domestic jobs and accounts for nearly 3 percent of the countryโs gross domestic product.
โWe are excited,โ said NTA President Lisa Simon, CTP, โSupporting domestic travel is a bags-packed blueprint for creating jobs. We applaud the senators who recognized the relationship between tourism and jobs and sponsored this bill.โ
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) introduced the legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Shumer (D-NY), Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). The bill provides US$10 million a year for 5 years in competitive grants to state tourism offices or local destination marketing organizations and their strategic partners to promote domestic tourism growth or create new domestic tourism markets.
โThe key word is โdomestic.โ Itโs good for Americans traveling through America,โ said Simon, โJust as the Travel Promotion Act has made it possible for US destinations to attract international visitors, the TRIP Act does that for domestic travel. And this grant money will be available to all US tourism organizations, regardless of size or location.โ
When awarding the grants, ranging from US$100,000 to US$1 million, the US Department of Commerce is authorized by the bill to give priority to regions with low contributions to tourism marketing.
โSo many of our destinationsโ marketing budgets have suffered severe cuts or even elimination,โ said Simon, โThese grants will provide a way to continue stimulating local economies through domestic tourism.โ
Simon said that in all 50 states, domestic tourism accounts for the largest portion of travel, adding that the TRIP Act will be helpful to all NTA members involved in US domestic travel.
About NTA:
Now celebrating its 60th year, NTA is the leading business-building association for travel professionals interested in the North American marketโinbound, outbound and within the continent. This yearโs all-member Convention takes place December 5โ9 in Las Vegas.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- The bill provides US$10 million a year for 5 years in competitive grants to state tourism offices or local destination marketing organizations and their strategic partners to promote domestic tourism growth or create new domestic tourism markets.
- Simon said that in all 50 states, domestic tourism accounts for the largest portion of travel, adding that the TRIP Act will be helpful to all NTA members involved in US domestic travel.
- When awarding the grants, ranging from US$100,000 to US$1 million, the US Department of Commerce is authorized by the bill to give priority to regions with low contributions to tourism marketing.