NTA Welcomes Tourism Friends at Helm of New U.S. Senate Caucus

June 24, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 24, 2011)-For the first time in a quarter-century, the U.S. Senate has formed a caucus focused on travel and tourism, a sector of the national economy that employs 7.4 million Americans and generates more than $700 billion in spending.

Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Begich (D-AK), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Mark Kirk (R-IL) launched the U.S. Senate Travel & Tourism Caucus, a bipartisan caucus that will work to reduce barriers to travel and raise awareness of the importance of the travel and tourism industry. Klobuchar, Begich and Blunt serve on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. tourism industry.

The news is significant for the travel and tourism sector, said Lisa Simon, NTA president. "We applaud Senators Klobuchar, Begich, Blunt and Kirk for recognizing that this industry is a major contributor to the national economy," said Simon. "Their leadership on travel-industry issues will pave the way for increased U.S. domestic tourism-and international tourism to the United States—resulting in much-needed revenues and jobs throughout the country."

Simon said she appreciates the senators’ previous leadership in travel and tourism. "These four Senate leaders have previously established themselves as strong advocates of the successful Travel Promotion Act and other pending legislation that will enhance this growing sector of our national economy," she said. "We at NTA look forward to working with them—and with all members of the Senate Travel & Tourism Caucus."