The President Signs the Travel Promotion Act
March 5, 2010
Congressman Farr’s TRIP Act Expected to Boost U.S. Domestic Tourism
March 3, 2010
According to OpenCongress.org, which tracks legislation introduced to the U.S. Congress, Representative Sam Farr (D-California), co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, introduced on Feb. 24, 2010, H. R. 4676, the Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) Act, which will provide US$50 million (over a five year period) in matching grants to destination marketing organizations and their strategic partners.
To direct the Secretary of Commerce (The Honorable Gary Locke, former Governor of Washington State) to establish a competitive grant program to promote domestic regional tourism.
Excerpts follow from the bill as introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives:
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
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(1) The importance of travel and tourism cannot be overstated: travel and tourism employs America.
(2) Approximately 8,300,000 domestic jobs depend on the travel and tourism industry.
(3) The United States travel and tourism industry is worth more than $691,000,000,000 annually in direct spending, of which more than 85 percent is the result of domestic travel. Including indirect spending, such industry tops $1,200,000,000,000 in spending.
(4) The travel and tourism industry accounts for 2.6 percent of GDP, nearly four times that of the automotive industry.
(5) Domestic employment related to the travel and tourism industry cannot be outsourced to other countries.
(6) The current economic downturn has created the most difficult economic environment for the domestic travel and tourism industry since the period following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
(7) The travel and tourism industry has contracted by nearly $130,000,000,000 in 2009 alone. The domestic tourism economy has fallen by nearly 4.5 percent during 2009, twice the rate of the overall economy of the United States.
(8) Domestic spending on travel and tourism has been in decline since the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, while employment in the travel and tourism industry has been falling since the second quarter of such year.
(9) Public-private partnerships have been underutilized in the promotion of travel and tourism and are a dynamic tool in creating new domestic tourism markets and promoting domestic regional tourism growth.
Congress finds the following:
SEC. 3. DOMESTIC REGIONAL TOURISM GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment by Secretary of Commerce- The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a competitive grant program, administered by the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, to promote domestic regional tourism growth and new domestic tourism market creation.
(b) Range of Grant Monetary Amounts- No grant shall be less than $100,000 or more than $1,000,000.
(c) Grantee Eligibility Requirements
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(A) A Convention and Visitors Bureau.
(B) A partnership between a State or local government and a local tourism entities.
(A) SUBMISSION- An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and with such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES- The following entities are eligible for a grant under this section for the purposes of promoting domestic regional tourism growth and new domestic tourism market creation:
(1) NON-FEDERAL FUNDS- As a condition of receipt of a grant under this section, the grant recipient shall provide, either directly or through donations from public or private entities, non-Federal matching funds, in cash or in-kind, in an amount equal to the amount of the grant.
(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR IN-KIND DONATIONS- Of the amount of non-Federal matching funds required under paragraph (1), not more than 25 percent shall be provided through in-kind contributions.
(e) Reports- Not later than 6 months after the end of each fiscal year in which grants were awarded by the Secretary under this section, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on–
(f) Definitions- In this section:
(1) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Commerce.
(2) LOCAL TOURIST ENTITY- The term ‘local tourist entity’ means any public or private sector business engaged in tourism-related activities.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years that begin after the date of enactment of this section for grants under this section, and such amounts appropriated shall remain available until expended.
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Editor’s Note: Track details at http://www.opencongress.org and track H.R. 4676 – The newly introduced (Feb. 24, 2010, in the U.S. House of Representatives) legislation follows in the footsteps of another bill, the Travel Promotion Act, as reported by CNN. Preliminarily, the ATTA views these two legislative concepts promising for the adventure tourism industry, especially if these efforts contribute also to economically depressed, yet culturally and environmentally rich areas in the rural United States.
Despite Economic Downturn, Americans and Foreign Visitors Flocked to U.S. National Parks in 2009
March 3, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ten million more Americans and foreign tourists visited the nation’s national parks last year than in 2008, a 3.9 percent increase that marked the fifth busiest year ever for the National Park System, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.
“People both here and abroad know that our national parks are America’s best idea, even during an economic downturn,” Salazar said. “Our national parks are treasures that tell the story of our country and celebrate its beauty and culture, and they provide vacation bargains for families living on a tight budget. They offer priceless opportunities to inspire adults and children alike with our wonderful natural, cultural and historic heritage.”
“In an increasingly sedentary society, our parks give parents a place to connect their children with nature and learn to appreciate the good feelings that come from healthy green exercise,” he said.
More than 285 million people visited national parks and other units of the National Park System during 2009, up from just under 275 million in 2008. This fell just short of the all-time visitation record of 287.2 million in 1987.
Possible reasons for the increase in visitation include three weekends last summer when the Park Service waived entrance fees, the visits by President Obama and his family to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, the publicity generated by Ken Burns’ documentary on the history of the national parks, a decline in gasoline prices, and the continued strong exchange rate the Euro enjoys against the dollar.
Salazar highlighted the benefits national parks provide to our economy. A study released today revealed that the National Park System supports more than 223,000 jobs and nearly $14 billion in economic activity across the country.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park continued its reign as the most-visited national park in 2009, attracting 9.4 million visitors, while the Blue Ridge Parkway was the most visited unit of the system with nearly 16 million visitors.
The top 10 most visited national parks were:
* Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 9,491,437 visitors
* Grand Canyon National Park, 4,348,068
* Yosemite National Park, 3,737,472
* Yellowstone National Park, 3,295,187
* Olympic National Park, 3,276,459
* Rocky Mountain National Park, 2,822,325
* Zion National Park, 2,735,402
* Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 2,589,288
* Grand Teton National Park, 2,580,081
* Acadia National Park, 2,227,698
(Source: Feb. 23, 2010 – http://www.doi.gov/news/)
According to CNN: “Bill for U.S. travel promotion organization headed to president’s desk”
February 26, 2010
(CNN) — A bill that will create a tourism promotion organization for the United States received its final passage in the Senate on Thursday. Read full story.
Green Globe Mexico Launched
January 18, 2010
Green Globe Certification (GGC), announced today the launch of Green Globe Mexico to service markets in its home country and Latin American neighbors. Green Globe Mexico has been appointed a three year license, with opportunity to extend, to provide sustainability certification and related services under the Green Globe brand.
Green Globe Mexico is a 100% Mexican company supported by environmental organizations including PRONATURA SUR A.C and Productos y Procesos Sustentables A.C., both having a long history of environmental stewardship in Mexico as well as certification of sustainable agriculture.
PRONATURA Executive Director Ms. Rosa Vidal said, “Our mission at PRONATURA has been the conservation of flora, fauna and priority ecosystems, while promoting society’s development in harmony with nature. Our organization has been a pioneer for more than 25 years, linking environmental projects to local capacity building, environmental policy development, a focus on gender issues and innovation in financial services.
“Within the last decade, PRONATURA has been part of the remarkable efforts in Mexico to achieve social, environmental and economic sustainability. From this work a number of independent organizations, companies and networks have been born. PRONATURA has been at the heart of these initiatives which support new partners and alliances working for a better world.
“Today we are proud of supporting the incorporation of Green Globe Mexico, a sister company which certainly will be the landmark for green and sustainable tourism and related services in Mexico. We know that tourism businesses recognize the importance of better management of natural resources, energy and waste and with Green Globe Mexico there is a very good opportunity to offer qualified services in Spanish language to this important sector”, concluded Ms Vidal.
Green Globe Certification CEO, Mr. Guido Bauer said, “We are honored to be associated with the sustainability initiatives and programs in Mexico via our new license with Green Globe Mexico.
“Green Globe Mexico is a 100% owned and registered Mexican company, which means they will be able to meet the specific needs of their clients using Green Globe’s Spanish language system. Furthermore with their years of experience they will be able to ensure all Green Globe clients in Mexico are compliant with all Mexican as well as international regulations” added Mr. Bauer.
Plans are already underway to utilize the experience and network from Green Globe Mexico’s office to deliver the Green Globe Spanish language program in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala and throughout Latin America.
Green Globe Mexico is an agent for all Green Globe marketing services including assisting clients with their promotion at Luxury Travel Show Las Vegas, ITB Berlin, IMEX Frankfurt, Arabian Travel Market and other international travel shows. Green Globe Mexico will also assist Green Globe clients in Latin American with their inclusion in the inaugural Green Globe Book, a compendium of the best travel and tourism businesses.
About Green Globe Certification
Green Globe is the worldwide sustainability certification based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA and operates in over 83 countries via the Green Globe Alliance. Green Globe is the only certification company to be an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
For information visit www.greenglobe.com
About Green Globe Mexico and ProNatura in Mexico.
Green Globe Mexico, is a Mexican private company. It is formed by experienced professionals from business and environmental sectors. The company will apply the highest international standards to bring about a new era of environmental respect and efficiency.
For information visit www.greenglobe.com.mx
Pronatura México was first created in 1981 and in the following years, regional and state representative offices were constituted. Together, they integrate Pronatura’s National System, with strategies and actions oriented towards achieving the conservation and sustainable development of priority regions and sites for biodiversity preservation in the country. Pronatura SUR A.C. supports activities related to the conservation of important natural ecosystems for future generations. They also collaborate with and support domestic, foreign and international organizations whose activities are related to the conservation of natural ecosystem as well as conduct or assist in educational efforts that strive for an environmentally conscious society.
Contact: Bradley Cox, Green Globe Director of Communications : bcox@greenglobe.com
New York Times Reports National Geographic Adventure Magazine Folds
December 3, 2009
According to The New York Times’ December 3, 2009, story:
“National Geographic will cease printing National Geographic Adventure, its outdoor magazine, the company said Thursday afternoon. The title will continue online and in special “newsstand editions, books, e-magazines, mobile applications and a robust Web site,” the company said in a statement.” Access The New York Times article for the rest of the story.
Editor’s Note:
National Geographic Adventure magazine has been a long time supporter of the Adventure Travel Trade Association and our industry. It is with great sorrow that we see the print magazine National Geographic Adventure cease publication. Its founder and Editor-in-Chief John Rasmus, an ATTA Lifetime Achievement award recipient and good friend and advocate of the ATTA, deserves accolades for the tremendous gifts he’s given to our industry this past decade, and before that, his role in founding Outside Magazine. The ATTA will continue to monitor and report the next phase of this story and will seek to bring to ATN readers an inside look at the recent development and its potential impact on our industry.
Senate Bill Would Fulfill Longstanding Promise for Conservation and Recreation Program
November 6, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Max Baucus (D-MT), today introduced legislation to permanently provide $900 million to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the federal government’s main program to protect land and provide outdoor recreation opportunities.
The legislation, S. 2747, is supported by a broad coalition of conservation and recreation organizations.
“Even in difficult economic times, open space protection and outdoor recreation are top priorities for Americans. Two out of three American voters continue to offer strong support for public investments in conservation – and that support has held steady despite the economic downturn and in this week’s elections, 64 percent of state and municipal ballot initiatives authorizing land conservation funding passed,” stated Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “Senator Bingaman and Senator Baucus clearly understand this, and are taking that crucial step towards making a dependable investment in the future of this country’s communities.”
The LWCF, created in 1965, has helped protect land at some of America’s most famous and popular places including our country’s iconic national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges and National Landscape Conservation System Lands where millions of Americans recreate; beaches on the Gulf Coast and Atlantic seaboard; as well as cultural and historic places like Civil War battlefields and Native American sites.
The program also includes grants to support state and local parks. Those grants help develop park facilities and recreational amenities – creating jobs and supporting the quality-of-life factors that allow communities to attract employers and a strong work force.
“We get to protect places like La Cienega Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Petroglyph National Monument at the same time that we improve parks, trails, ball fields, and pools – that’s a win for everyone. It’s heartening to see Senator Bingaman taking steps to fully fund this program and enrich our communities,” said New Mexico House Majority Leader Kenny Martinez.
Every year, $900 million goes into the fund from oil and gas leases on federal lands. But Congress has often spent the money for other purposes and only once in the history of the fund has all the money gone for the original intent of the LWCF. This year, the fund saw its greatest allocation in many years at more than $300 million – but that is still only one third of what it is supposed to be.
Because only a fraction of the funds dedicated to the purpose have actually been spent, there is a backlog of more than $30 billion worth of lands that federal agencies would like to protect. In addition, states say they have a huge unmet need for local parks and recreation resources totaling more than $27 billion in eligible projects.
“The irony is that billions of dollars are collected every year from existing offshore oil and gas leasing revenues – the designated revenue stream for LWCF – and yet that money is regularly diverted for other purposes,” stated Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land. “We need to make sure the money is spent for the purposes for which it was originally collected and to ensure that our children and grandchildren have a place to play.”
Federal and state public lands as well local parks and recreation facilities greatly enhance communities’ quality of life, which in turn helps large and small localities to attract new residents and businesses and to generate tourism-related jobs and revenues. Outdoor recreation including hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, hiking, paddling, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other activities contributes a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supporting 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.) and stimulates 8 percent of all consumer spending according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation.
“The outdoor industry has long held a goal of ensuring every child in America has access to a trail or park within one mile of their home. Many studies show that this type of commitment to our nation’s recreation infrastructure would easily pay for itself in the resulting reduction in health care costs and the increase in the mental well-being of our children,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of Outdoor Industry Association.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition is an informal partnership of national, state and local conservation and recreation organizations working together to support full and dedicated funding for LWCF.
Seascape Kayak Tours has been named a finalist for the National Awards for Tourism Excellence
September 29, 2009
Seascape Kayak Tours has been named a finalist for the National Awards for Tourism Excellence, presented by the Globe and Mail. Selected as one of three finalists for the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award, Seascape Kayak Tours’ nomination was submitted by the New Brunswick Government and the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick.
New research confirms Mexico’s tourism will remain strong over long term
August 13, 2009
(August 10, 2009) — WTTC expects Mexico’s Travel & Tourism Economy GDP growth to average around 5% per annum over the next decade (2009-19), generating some 2 million direct industry jobs by the end of the period.
As the first country in the world to experience an outbreak of the now widespread A (H1N1) influenza virus, Mexico has been really hard hit in terms of tourism demand over the past three months. Preliminary estimates from the Mexican Government put the impact so far at around US$200-$300 million, but the final toll could well be much greater. More than 2,000 inbound flights were cancelled during the early stages of the crisis.
“Mexico should be applauded for the way it handled the swine flu crisis,” said Ufi Ibrahim, Chief Operations Officer of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), speaking at a recent media breakfast organised by the Mexico Tourism Board. “The Mexican Government and other stakeholders in the local Travel & Tourism industry have taught us all a lot because they have shown great leadership during their period of crisis, not to mention responsibility, timeliness and effectiveness.
“This was one of the clear messages that came out of our 9th Global Travel & Tourism Summit, held in Florianópolis, Brazil, in May 2009,” Ms Ibrahim added. “The virus and the need for the global Travel & Tourism industry to prepare for a pandemic were top of the agenda at the Summit, and Mexico’s responsible approach to reporting the outbreak and its impact impressed delegates from around the world.”
In 2008, international tourist arrivals in Mexico grew by 5.9% to 22.6 million while US dollar travel spending by all visitors rose 3.4% to US$13.3 billion. More significantly, WTTC’s research shows that the country’s Travel & Tourism Economy increased its contribution to 13.2% of Mexico’s GDP, growing by 3.8% – as against stagnation in Travel & Tourism Economy GDP posted by the Americas as a whole.
In addition and, even more importantly, given the global economic situation and rising unemployment around the world, an estimated 40,000 additional jobs were created directly last year by Mexico’s Travel & Tourism Industry, raising the total number of people directly employed in the sector to 1.7 million.
Mexico’s Travel & Tourism started 2009 on a positive note …
Despite the intensification of the global recession and continued drug-related violence in Mexico, international tourist arrivals continued to expand (+5.9%) in the first four months of 2009. However, the gains were concentrated in January and February, while April saw just a 0.2% year-on-year rise and the growth is estimated to have come mainly from lower-spending visitors staying near the US border.
For more on this story, visit WTTC’s Tourism News.
Canadian Tourism Industry Benchmark Study finds favourable performance compared with other sectors
July 8, 2009
In the hustle and bustle of the information age, with news and views cascading from the internet, the big picture can pass you by. However, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has just published a new in-depth report on the state of the Canadian tourism industry in relation to other sectors of the economy to redress that balance.
The Canadian Tourism Industry Benchmark Study: Where Do We Rank in the Context of the Canadian Economy? shows how the total tourism industry measures up. Using the most recent available data from 2007, the report reveals Canada’s tourism sector is performing favourably compared to other broad sectors of the economy. It ranked fourth in a composite analysis, behind: finance, insurance and real estate; wholesale and retail trade; and community, business and personal services.
It’s a strong and consistent performance over a broad range of economic and financial performance measures juxtaposed with other major economic sectors. The results suggest the tourism industry is certainly worthy of future investment considerations.
Meanwhile, the primary industries sector (agriculture, fishing and trapping, and forestry), which, like tourism represents 2% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product, was the weakest performer in the report’s index.
The CTC commissioned The Conference Board of Canada to provide this benchmarking study on the vibrancy and competitiveness of the Canadian tourism industry.
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