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/)
World Nomad’s Safety Hub Delivers Advice to Travelers in Chile
March 1, 2010
Chile earthquakes: advice for travelers
Just before dawn on Saturday 27th February, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile. The epicenter was situated in the Maule region, 300km south of the capital, Santiago.
So far, over 700 deaths have been recorded with fears that this will rise significantly over the coming days. The Earthquake sent waves of more than two metres crashing into the coastline as well as into outlying pacific islands, sparking Tsunami alerts as far as New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Chilean government agencies and forces are currently working around the clock to restore electricity, supply emergency medical assistance and assess what other support is required before requesting international aid.
WorldNomads.com offeres travel safety and advice to help those in the affected areas stay informed. Click here for such information and for insights on how your operation/destination can help travelers stay informed in the aftermath of crises.
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.
Travel + Leisure’s March 2010 Issue Features “World’s Top Adventure Trips”
February 25, 2010
According to Travel + Leisure’s March 2010 issue, “T+L has surveyed the field to create the ultimate directory of adventure trips around the globe, each listed with a top outfitter.”
Editor’s Note: In the story written by veteran and prolific writer of all things adventure, Jeff Wise, includes 33 companies on Travel + Leisure’s World’s Top Top Adventure Trips list for 2010, 21 of which are offered by ATTA Members. In the online version, the article shows thoughtful diversity of place, price, activity, seasonality and duration. Review the online version.
National Geographic Channel Premieres “Nasca Lines: Buried Secrets”, Sure to Inspire
February 25, 2010
The National Geographic Channel has just premiered a new documentary, Nasca Lines: Buried Secrets, from Edge West Productions, directed by celebrated British documentarian Philip J. Day. This in-depth doc comes at a perfect time, giving an American audience an exciting view of the history and mysteries of Peru beyond Machu Picchu. Nasca Lines: Buried Secrets will certainly inspire its audience to visit Peru to see the lines in-person and to experience the county on the whole. The show premiered in the USA on Sunday, but will be re-airing a number of times over the next few weeks.
- 2/25, 7 PM EST
- 2/25, 10 PM EST
- 2/28, 12 PM EST
- 3/4, 3 PM EST
* Editor’s Note: In 2005, I had the good fortune to visit the Nasca lines from the ground, and from above in the seat of a 6 passenger Cessna, and was simply mesmerized, realizing a childhood dream to visit the mysterious lines drawings on the face of the earth. It’s this very location and that very trip that inspired ATTA efforts to collaborate with Archaeology and the Archaeological Institute of America to co-develop: “A Guide to Best Practices for Archaeological Tourism” (from this site, industry professionals may download the free guidelines. The alert about this documentary arrived from Willy Blackmore’s thoughtful letter below, otherwise, as an individual who does not own a television, I may have missed this one!
“Hello – As you well know, the recent flooding in Peru has caused huge amounts of damage to local populations, destroying houses and infrastructure. And in addition to the personal losses of Peruvians affected by the torrential rains, there is the economic damage to communities caused by a loss in tourism due to Machu Picchu’s temporary closure. Peru is, of course, much more than just this one ancient ruin which is so well known throughout the world and the government has been pointing to other cultural treasures found in the country, such as the Nasca Lines, as lesser-known but equally as interesting tourism destinations. The monumental lines etched in the desert have long mystified and fascinated visitors, giving rise to theories of alien influence and lending inspiration to contemporary artists working with nature as a medium.
This Sunday at 10 PM EST, the National Geographic Channel will be premiering a new documentary, Nasca Lines: Buried Secrets, from Edge West Productions, directed by celebrated British documentarian Philip J. Day. This in-depth doc comes at a perfect time, giving an American audience an exciting view of the history and mysteries of Peru beyond Machu Picchu. Nasca Lines: Buried Secrets will certainly inspire its audience to visit Peru to see the lines in-person and to experience the county on the whole.
Would you be interested in writing something about the premiere of the Nasca Lines: Buried Secrets in additional to your coverage of the flooding? If so, please let me know—I can send you a link to the trailer and more information about the documentary and Edge West Productions.
Best,
Willy Blackmore – SocialRadius / Terpin Communications”
News Update – Feb. 25, 2010, In a tragic development, according to CNN today:
“(CNN) — Seven people, mostly tourists, were killed Thursday when a small plane crashed in southern Peru, near the famous Nazca Lines, the official Andina news agency reported, citing Nazca police.” Read more.
New Sustainable Travel Specialist Course Available Through The Travel Institute
February 19, 2010
Wellesley, MA / Boulder, CO – The Travel Institute announced the release of a new Lifestyle Specialist course for travel agents that’s focused on sustainable travel and tourism. This course joins eight other Lifestyle Specialist courses offered by The Travel Institute each one allowing travel professionals to test and earn an industry recognized credential.
The course, sponsored by Virtuoso, was created in partnership with Sustainable Travel International (STI), a non-profit organization that promotes responsible travel and supports sustainable development. This 5-module course teaches travel counselors how to identify the characteristics and benefits of sustainable travel, integrate “green” business practices into their existing business operations, choose travel suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to sustainable travel, and explores strategies for practicing sustainable travel and tourism.
“The travel agent community is in a unique position to both service and create demand for sustainable tourism while providing their clients with more authentic and rewarding travel experiences,” explained Brian T. Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International. “We’re happy to provide them with a distance learning solution that will help them take advantage of the benefits of sustainable tourism.”
“Virtuoso was pleased to support the development of a sustainable travel course in collaboration with The Travel Institute and Sustainable Travel International,” says Mindy Exum, managing director of training & professional development at Virtuoso. “Global economists continue to forecast that international tourism is one of the world’s largest growing industries in the world, increasing three to six percent annually depending on location. We want to encourage awareness and the need for everyone in the travel business to take a responsible approach to tourism so that the world’s remaining biologically diverse habitats and indigenous cultures are protected and preserved for generations to come.”
The interactive Sustainable Travel Specialist course is available online in The Travel Institute’s e-Learning Center as well as on disk. To learn more about all The Travel Institute’s Lifestyle Specialist courses, visit www.thetravelinstitute.com.
About The Travel Institute
Established in 1964, The Travel Institute serves as a community of knowledge and insight for all travel professionals. Through innovative education programs, professional certifications and customized learning solutions, The Institute fulfills its non-profit mission to promote a standard of industry knowledge and excellence. For more information about The Travel Institute, visit www.thetravelinstitute.com or call (800) 542-4282.
About Sustainable Travel International
Sustainable Travel International (STI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote sustainable development through responsible travel by providing programs that help travelers, businesses and destinations protect the environment, preserve cultural heritage and promote economic development. STI is dedicated to taking a holistic approach to addressing sustainable development within the travel and tourism industries by providing solutions-oriented programs that generate tangible results and affect long-lasting change. For more information, visit www.sustainabletravelinternational.org or call (800) 276-7764.
Adventure Tourism Development Index 2009 Report
February 16, 2010
A joint initiative of The George Washington University, the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Xola Consulting, the Adventure Tourism Development Index (ATDI) ranks 192 countries based for their adventure travel competitiveness.
The 2009 ATDI Report, in three parts, is available below at no charge.
The methodology relies on hard data and expert surveys to asses countries in 10 pillars:
- Sustainable Development
- Health
- Safety
- Security
- Cultural Resources
- Natural Resources
- Adventure Activity Resources
- Infrastructure
- Entrepreneurship
- Image
The top three developing countries this year were the Slovak Republic, Israel and the Czech Republic. The top three developed countries were Iceland, Switzerland and New Zealand.
- Download full report: Click here.
- Download the pillar scores for developing countries: Click here.
- Download the pillar scores for developed countries: Click here.
Survey and other research data gathered to generate the ATDI rankings can be customized for a fee. Xola Consulting can create reports to help inform and support country adventure development and marketing objectives. Contact Xola for more information on custom reports.
The First Coastal Tourism Innovators Symposium Receives High Praise from Participants
February 12, 2010
The first-ever Symposium for Innovators in Coastal Tourism Development, held January 20-22 at Stanford University, exceeded expectations of both participants and organizers. The Symposium, organized by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and cosponsored by the Center for Global Business and the Economy (CGBE) of the Stanford Business School, was attended by 85 innovators from the private and public sectors who are incorporating social and environmental best practices into coastal resort and vacation home developments. The full proceedings of this noteworthy event are available online at www.responsibletravel.org.
“We successfully met our goal of bringing together pioneers in coastal tourism who are creating sustainable alternative models to the gated, all-inclusive beach resorts that today dot coastlines throughout the Americas and the Caribbean,” says Dr. William H. Durham who is CREST Co-Director and Bing Professor of Human Biology in the Anthropology Department at Stanford.
Keynote speaker Chris Blackwell, owner of Island Outpost Resorts, founder of Island Records, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame praised the event, saying, “The CREST conference redefines what is truly meaningful in responsible tourism today.” Deborah Szekely, founder and owner of Rancho La Puerta in Mexico proclaimed “it was a positively wonderful program,” while Mary-Elizabeth Gifford, Board Member for the Demeter Association, declared that the Symposium “sets the standard by which all other summits will now be judged… Davos, without the snow.”
The Symposium got off to a spirited start with a panel discussion following the premier showing of “Cracking the Golden Egg: Tourism on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast,” a new CREST documentary film about the impacts of large resort tourism along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Symposium topics also included public and private sector finance for sustainable tourism, green design and architecture, community engagement, and the impacts of both the economic recession and climate change on coastal tourism. Many participants praised the high quality of the speakers: Dr. Patrick Tierney, Professor of Tourism, San Francisco State University said, “The content was cutting edge and relevant to the current and future situation. I liked the future orientation of the speakers.” Mark Spalding, President Ocean Foundation added that keynote speakers “were spectacular.” They included renowned oceanographer/explorer and former chief scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dr. Sylvia Earle; Dr. David Orr, the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics, Oberlin College; and Dr. William Barnett, Director, Center for Global Business and the Economy, and the Thomas Siebel Professor of Business Leadership, Strategy, and Organizations in the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
The participants included developers and experts from the Caribbean, North America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and a strong contingent from Mexico. By the end of the meeting, momentum had gathered for hosting the next Innovator’s Symposium in Mexico, at a date and place still to be determined.
To view presentations, photos and video clips from the Symposium or order copies of the documentary, visit the CREST website, www.responsibletravel.org.
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