Yesterday, the President released The United States Travel and Tourism Strategy. The Departments of Commerce and the Interior led a government-wide effort to outline a long term strategy for increasing both domestic and international tourism. This is a blueprint for the Federal government to reach our goal of attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors, who we estimate will spend $250 billion, annually by the end of 2021. The National Travel and Tourism Strategy maps out what the government can and will do to enable job growth in the travel and tourism industry. The Department of Commerce also will create a national travel and tourism office to provide day-to-day support needed to implement the National Travel and Tourism Strategy.
The Strategy specifically recognizes the importance of America's Byways:
Page 15 - "A number of Federal agencies can leverage existing programs and assets for promotion, including, for example the America’s Byways® program, which showcases 150 distinct roadways that have significant historical, cultural, recreational, natural, archeological, and scenic beauty and provides themed and special interest itineraries.
Page 18 - "As the nation expands opportunities for travel and tourism, and energy prices potentially increase, pedestrian, multimodal, and mass transit options will become even more important for travel and tourism. Federal grant programs and discretionary funds support the development of pedestrian and bicycle networks, streetcars, airport/downtown rail extensions, alternative transportation, and enhanced multimodal connections in cities and towns, on Federal and tribal lands and America’s Byways®. Infrastructure improvements directed at local residents and commuters, as well as those that provide access to rural areas, also enable travelers to visit lessprominent areas and to utilize alternative transportation modes."
For more information on the President's announcement, see:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/10/obama-administration-continues-efforts-increase-travel-and-tourism-unite
To download a PDF copy of the Strategy, please visit:
http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=295021
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GJensen |
United States National Travel and Tourism Strategy
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dkschutt |
Re: United States National Travel and Tourism Strategy
Thanks for sharing Gary.
How likely is it that this report and the recommended strategies will influence the administration to push congress for the continuation of the byway program and designated funding. Debbie |
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dkschutt |
Re: United States National Travel and Tourism Strategy
Thanks for sharing Gary.
How likely is it that this report and the recommended strategies will influence the administration to push congress for the continuation of the byway program and designated funding. Debbie |
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GJensen |
Re: United States National Travel and Tourism Strategy
At this point, the Administration position has not changed. As noted in the 2013 budget proposal (http://www.dot.gov/about.html#perfbudgplan), the Administration still supports program consolidation, but retaining designations and some eligibiliities.
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