WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act into law on March 4, which represents an enormous victory for the exhibitions, meetings and travel industries. The legislation, led by the lobbying efforts of the U.S. Travel Association and dozens of supporting organizations, took almost three years to pass through Congress.

The bill promotes international travel to the United States.

“Congress has sent a clear message that travel is a high priority to our nation, and that tangible steps must be taken to increase travel to and within the United States,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

In the last decade, the country has lost substantial ground in the global travel market to other nations. This economic loss is estimated to be in excess of billions. Now that the Travel Promotion Act is law, the country will have a source of travel promotion support for the first time.

“All IAEE members who visited Washington D.C., who talked with, wrote and called their Congressional representatives and senators share in this important victory,” said Steven Hacker, CAE, president of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). "Working in tandem with our partners across the industry ensured that our messages were both heard and acted upon. It is now time to go about the work of recapturing international market share for the business travelers who are so important to our domestic trade shows and events."

The Act creates a public-private Corporation for Travel Promotion that will be supervised by the U.S. Department of Commerce and will also interact with the Departments of State and Homeland Security. An 11-member board will be created representing a broad cross-section of interests that depend upon international travelers. An executive director will run the day-to-day operations of the corporation that will create marketing and communications programs designed to attract more international visitors.

No taxpayer dollars will be used to support the corporation. Funding will be provided by both a new fee that will be paid by foreign travelers who are exempt from paying U.S. visa fees and annual private sector contributions.

For more information about the Travel Promotion Act, visit www.ustravel.org.