The U.S. Department of Commerce will soon announce a $750 million investment in travel and tourism, according to Gina Raimondo, the department secretary, speaking on a virtual forum conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).
Also at the forum, Chris Thompson, CEO of Brand USA, which promotes international tourism to the U.S., said the organization plans its first marketing campaign since the pandemic began to begin Aug. 1 with the message that this country is ready for tourists to visit.
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Raimondo said she is hopeful for a reasonably robust summer for leisure travel but added, “there’s a long way to go.” She said wants the federal money to be used flexibly “because tourism is local and has local needs” with some states perhaps spending it on convention centers, others on recreation and still others on marketing.
The secretary also said the administration is working very hard to get Congress to pass the American Jobs Plan, which she called “very relevant’ to travel as it involves infrastructure, jobs, training, parks and clean water – all very relevant to travel.
“I look forward to working with the industry,” said Raimondo. “I know better days are ahead for leisure and business travel.”
As for business travel, Raimondo said she is doing everything she can as an advocate to open key travel corridors to business travelers. She said there are safe ways to travel, particularly for those who are vaccinated.
“I will do everything I can,” she said, “to revitalize domestic and international business travel through agencies that report to me.” She said easing travel restrictions is a top priority of hers and the administration and promises that “we are collaborating across the government to do everything we can to ease travel restrictions safely.”
Thompson said he is more…