Bill Overview
Title: Travel and Tourism Act
Description: This bill implements measures to support the U.S. travel and tourism industry. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Commerce to develop a 10-year travel and tourism strategy with annual goals for the number of international visitors to the United States and for travel and tourism commerce. Further, Commerce must develop and implement a COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy to assist the recovery of the U.S. travel and tourism industry. The bill also provides statutory authority for the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which shall advise Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry.
Sponsors: Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]
Target Audience
Population: International travelers to the United States
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The global travel and tourism industry encompasses travelers and tourists internationally, including those visiting the United States.
- Visitors to the United States are directly impacted as their travel plans would be influenced by the strategic goals outlined by this bill.
- The COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy would affect international tourists who might benefit from safer and better-managed travel experiences.
Reasoning
- The policy largely affects those working in and around the U.S. travel and tourism industry. This includes a wide range of personnel from hospitality workers to tour operators.
- The common U.S. citizen may not be significantly impacted unless they work directly in the travel industry or live in a high tourism area that benefits from increased traffic.
- International travelers will benefit but are not directly in the U.S. population. They will mostly experience improved infrastructure and safer travel conditions.
Simulated Interviews
Hotel Manager (Orlando, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I anticipate that this strategy will bring more tourists to Orlando, which is great for business.
- Our hotel has struggled during the pandemic, this could help revive our customer base.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Tour Guide (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could greatly increase my clientele if more tourists visit the city.
- Post-COVID recovery is crucial, as many of my colleagues have left the industry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Oil Industry Executive (Houston, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't impact my industry directly, but better tourism infrastructure may indirectly benefit corporate travel.
- Recovery from COVID-19 is good, but doesn’t change our operations much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Tech Worker (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tourism impacts other sectors and can help general recovery, which might eventually reach the tech industry.
- This policy doesn’t wow me but could be valuable for hospitality and related sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Casino Owner (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The strategy is promising and could revitalize international visits to Las Vegas.
- Increased visitor numbers directly equate to more revenue for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
International Travel Consultant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Travel consultancies will benefit from clearer strategies and more visitors.
- We’ve suffered under pandemic restrictions, this initiative could aid recovery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our sales heavily depend on international tourists, this could revamp business post-COVID.
- Strategic improvements in travel and tourism would directly benefit us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cultural Festival Organizer (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tourism strategies directly affect our event planning and audience size.
- Post-COVID recovery for tourism is essential for our festival’s success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Airline Pilot (Miami, FL)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More tourists mean more flights and job security for pilots like me.
- Improved travel strategies will help stabilize our schedules post-pandemic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Restaurant Owner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tourism is crucial for my business. Reviving international visits could significantly improve business operations.
- This policy seems essential for economic recovery in travel-dependent sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $510000000 (Low: $410000000, High: $610000000)
Year 3: $520000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $620000000)
Year 5: $540000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $640000000)
Year 10: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 100: $1200000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1400000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill's success heavily relies on international factors including global economic conditions and regional stability.
- COVID-19 recovery strategies must adapt to evolving pandemic conditions and potential future variants.
- Investment in infrastructure and workforce within the tourism sector is key to maximizing benefits from the act.