Mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Travel Leadership Summit, September 24 & 25, 2008 in Washington, DC. The final details are being worked out and more information will be available early in the New Year. The Travel Leadership Summit brings together several hundred travel industry executives to seek Congressional support for legislative initiatives important to travel and tourism. After TLS 2007, the Travel Promotion Act had more than double the number of co-sponsors in the Senate and House. TLS is a critical part of helping policymakers to better understand and appreciate the importance of travel to our nation.
Karen Ballard is the new head of the Idaho Department of Commerce's Division of Tourism Development. Karen has been with Idaho since 1992 as the International Tourism Specialist. She succeeds Carl Wilgus.
Michael Cooper is the new Commissioner of Tourism for the Kentucky Department of Tourism. Michael served in the Kentucky Tourism Cabinet's Department of Parks and Department of Tourism from 1983 to 2004. He succeeds Randy Fiveash.
On December 19, Congress passed legislation that is critical to the travel and tourism industry. The travel system reform provisions included in the sections of the bill that fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State include:
$40 million for the "Model Ports" program;
200 new U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers;
establishment of an International Registered Traveler program;
$26 million for an electronic travel authorization program to determine in advance of travel the eligibility of a foreign visitor to the U.S.;
enhancements to the US-VISIT program;
$5 million for mobile consular teams;
$225 million for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
These provisions are in addition to legislation signed into law by the President earlier this year that will expand the visa waiver program.
The 2007 edition of The Impact of Travel on State Economies(ITSE) is now available in the research area of TIA's website. State tourism offices are receiving advance notice of the report's availability. It will be formally released in January. The report describes the importance of the U.S. travel and tourism industry to the U.S. economy. The travel economic impact statistics presented in the report include travelers' expenditures as well as travel-generated employment, payroll income and tax revenues for the nation, each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. In 2006, domestic and international travelers spent $700 billion in the U.S. This generated 7.5 million jobs, $178.1 billion in payroll income, and $109.9 billion in tax revenues for federal, state and local governments. Click here for more information or to purchase the report.
On December 11, the U.S. Commerce Department announced an agreement with China that adds the U.S. to a list of approved destinations for group travel from China. The agreement also enables U.S. destinations to market directly in China. Commerce Department officials say the agreement, which will take effect in the spring, will result in about 580,000 Chinese arrivals annually by 2011, up 78% from current numbers.
The most recent issue of the Survey of U.S. State & Territory Travel Information Center Programs was just released. An electronic copy of the report in PDF format is now available for download from the NCSTD Online Resource Center. To access the report, go to the NCSTD password-protected section of the website and log in using your TIA membership user ID and password.
The annual Survey of U.S. State and Territory Tourism Office Budgets is wrapping up. Following receipt of information from a few remaining states, it is anticipated that the report will be published in February.
Early in the New Year, two new surveys will be initiated: the survey of tourism offices structure and operations, and the survey of tourism office website practices. The latter will be conducted in partnership with the National Laboratory for Tourism and eCommerce (NLTeC) at Temple University. TIA has entered into a five-year contract with NLTeC to evaluate state and territory website practices for 2007, 2009 and 2011. In addition, NLTeC will develop an archive of all data collected as part of this partnership as well as previous TIA initiated studies. The archive will be available to state and territory tourism offices as well as to Temple University students for study purposes.
Surveys commissioned by the Travel Industry Association, National Tour Association and Travel Business Roundtable, reveal that voters want presidential candidates to address travel and tourism issues and make them a priority. The surveys of likely voters in Florida and South Carolina reveal that travel issues are of significant importance to the electorate. Eight out of 10 surveyed say travel is important to their lives and the lives of their families, and 70 percent think it is possible to reduce wait times and still maintain the same level of security at airports.
TIA has announced that its annual State of the Travel Industry Luncheon will not be held in 2008. The TIA leadership will present a public statement regarding its agenda for the year, but has decided not to use its limited resources to create and manage a 500-person event as a platform for the announcement. The event is not being permanently canceled, but rather a decision will made from year-to-year on the most appropriate format and venue for the announcement.
Simple and fun, Park Bench Yoga is an effort by Vermont's Information Center Division, the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and the Governor's Highway Safety Program to both reduce driver fatigue on Vermont's highways and promote physical fitness. Park Bench Yoga encourages drivers to get out of their cars and move. The detailed stretches are featured on permanent outdoor weather-proof panels currently installed at two Vermont Information Centers and can be performed using park benches, picnic tables, or trees. Visitors can also take away a free brochure illustrating the exercises and listing the benefits of exercise for drivers.
The theme for the 2008 National Tourism Week is "Discover Great American Traditions." Sponsored annually by TIA, National Tourism Week highlights the powerful economic, social and cultural impacts of travel through outreach events and celebrations organized in states, cities and businesses across the nation. To learn more about National Tourism Week and start planning, please visit http://www.tia.org/pressmedia/TWFA/ntw_week.html.
For a comprehensive listing of upcoming state and regional tourism conferences, industry meetings, conventions, and trade shows, check out TIA's online Meetings Calendar.
StateSide is the official e-newsletter of the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD), an industry council of the Travel Industry Association (TIA). StateSide is a free service of TIA, produced by its National Councils Department under the direction of Patty Hubbard, Vice President, National Councils. You receive this communication as a benefit of your NCSTD membership within TIA. Please direct comments or suggestions to TIA's National Councils Department: ncstd@tia.org or 202.408.8422.
Please click here if you no longer want to receive Stateside.
The National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD), an industry council of the Travel Industry Association (TIA), is comprised of the tourism directors of the 50 states, the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. The mission of the NCSTD is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and leadership on travel industry issues impacting states and territories. For more information on NCSTD programs and activities, visit http://www.tia.org/councils/ncstd/index.html.
The Travel Industry Association (TIA), in existence since 1941, is:
The Washington DC based, non-profit association that represents and speaks for the common interests and concerns of all components of the U.S. travel industry;
The recognized leader in promoting and facilitating increased travel to and within the United States in order to make America the world's number one tourism destination; and
The authoritative and recognized source of research, analysis and forecasting for the entire industry and its primary spokesperson to the domestic and international media.
For information on TIA programs and activities, visit www.tia.org.
National Councils would like to thank the state and territory tourism offices for ensuring that our work is engaging and stimulating. From the dialogue on the list serves to Tequila Sheila, 2007 was a great year. We are definitely looking forward to 2008...
Best wishes - Patty & Kathleen
Highlights
NCSTD Spring Forum February 27-29, 2008
Grand Hyatt 1000 H St., NW Washington, DC
Please call 800-233-1234 and reference TIA or the National Council of State Tourism Directors Meeting to receive the group rate of $239 single/double, plus applicable local taxes (14.5%). Reserve by February 6 to receive the group rate.
International Pow Wow Las Vegas, Nevada May 31 - June 4, 2008 - Celebrate the 40th Anniversary. For tips to maximize your PowWow, contact sdickson@tia.org.
ESTO 2008 Bonita Springs, Florida August 23-26, 2008 - Celebrate 25 years of ESTO. Save the date!
Travel Leadership Summit Washington, DC September 24-25, 2008 - Mark your calendars for the industry's highly effective event that demonstrates the power of travel.
Visit TIA's TravelMarketingSearch.com for immediate access to a broad array of products and services listings that will aid TIA members in their purchasing decisions.
TIA members get one year of free, unlimited job postings and resume access on the only comprehensive online job board in the travel industry, GetATravelJob.com. Follow the link to learn more.
For more information about TIA, go to www.tia.org.
