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| Photo: Office of Travel & Tourism Industries |
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has appointed new members to the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. The board’s new charter expanded membership to include a more diverse and expansive industry representation from private sector participants in the travel and tourism industry. The appointees represent a broad cross-section of the industry including transportation services, financial services, and hotels and restaurants, as well as a mix of small and large firms from across the country.
“The health and stability of the travel and tourism industry touches all regions and impacts employment and economic strength across the country,” said Locke. “I look forward to working with the Travel and Tourism Board to develop policies that can help put Americans back to work in this critical sector.”
The board provides counsel to the Secretary on government policies, and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, and provides a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related concerns. The Department of Commerce will schedule the board’s inaugural meeting in the coming weeks.
Travel and tourism is one of the nation’s most significant exports, accounting for 2.7 percent of the nation’s GDP and supporting more than 8 million jobs. One in every sixteen jobs has its roots in the travel and tourism industry.
The most recent board, which ended its term in September 2009, presented recommendations to Secretary Locke at its final meeting, focusing on three key issues: airport congestion, travel facilitation issues and the economic sustainability of the industry.
More information on the board is available at tinet.ita.doc.gov/TTAB/TTAB_Home.html.
Source: Office of Travel & Tourism Industries
