Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1991

Summary

Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1991 - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to include as purposes of the national tourism policy: (1) to increase United States export earnings from tourism and transportation services traded internationally; (2) to ensure the orderly growth and development of tourism; (3) to coordinate and encourage the development of the tourism industry in rural communities; and (4) to promote increased and more effective investment in international tourism by the States, local governments, and cooperative tourism marketing programs. Includes as duties of the Secretary of Commerce: (1) to encourage the development of receptive, linguistic, informational, currency exchange, meal, and package tour services required by the international market; (2) to provide export promotion services for States, local governments, and companies in the United States that sell tourism services in the international market; and (3) to advise and provide technical assistance to U.S. firms seeking to facilitate travel to and from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe and compile statistics on such travel. Allows the use of appropriations for certain printing purposes. Repeals the annual reporting requirement of the Secretary of Commerce under the International Travel Act of 1961. Revises the membership of the Tourism Policy Council. Requires up to three Federal departments and agencies represented on such Council to detail to the Council for each year one staff person and associated resources. Requires the Secretary's tourism development efforts to focus on markets which have the greatest potential for increasing travel and tourism export revenues. Describes the generic promotion program under which the Secretary may award grants to carry out proposals to develop and implement tourism development programs, including cooperative tourism marketing programs Requires at least one member of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to be a city representative knowledgeable of tourism promotion. Revises the length of service of members on the Board. Requires the Board to send its comments to the Congress with regard to a marketing plan to stimulate travel to the United States. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) acts, policies, or practices of each foreign country that constitutes significant barriers to, or distortions of, United States travel and tourism exports; (2) an estimate of the trade-distorting impact on U.S. commerce of such acts, policies, or practices; and (3) an estimate, if feasible, on the value of additional U.S. travel and tourism exports that would have been exported to each foreign country if the acts, policies, and practices of such country did not exist. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on action taken to ensure that foreign tourists are not unnecessarily delayed when entering the United States. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress annually on the goals achieved by the United States Travel and Tourism Administration (USTTA) as part of the evaluation of such Administration. Requires the Secretary to ensure that the services of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service continue to be available to assist the USTTA as necessary to assist USTTA foreign offices in stimulating and encouraging travel to the United States by foreign residents. Abolishes the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing. Establishes a Deputy Under Secretary for Tourism Trade Development. Establishes three regional offices of the USTTA to be based in, and responsible for, the following geographic areas: (1) Europe and Africa; (2) Asia and the Pacific Region; and (3) North America, South America, and the Caribbean region. Limits administrative expenses of the USTTA for FY 1993 and subsequent fiscal years. Requires a report to the Congress on a study regarding: (1) economic effects associated with the public identification and promotion of scenic travel as a tourist attraction; and (2) techniques for incorporating scenic travel into tourism development programs. Directs the Secretary to publish monthly statistical reports on U.S. international travel receipts and payments prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on activities to increase tourism opportunities for, and encourage travel by, disabled persons. Declares that the Congress finds that increased efforts directed at the promotion of rural tourism will contribute to the economic development of rural America. Establishes the Rural Tourism Development Foundation. Authorizes the Secretary to assist the Foundation in the development and promotion of rural tourism Sets forth reporting requirements for the Secretary concerning: (1) the status of the efforts to improve the survey of international air travelers; and (2) the feasibility of publishing international travel receipts and payments on a monthly basis. Requires a report to specified congressional committees on assistance to U.S. firms seeking to facilitate travel to and from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. Authorizes appropriations.

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Documents

4 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 23 November 1991

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 29 October 1991

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