Travel Industry Celebrates Omnibus Win

Travel and tourism leaders secured a long-coveted win in the $1.7 trillion omnibus package signed into law just before the holidays last month.

The year-long government spending package includes the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act, establishing a new Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The top-level government position gives U.S. travel and tourism leaders an advocate that will support and enhance domestic travel and tourism by, among other responsibilities, creating goals for international visitation and travel and tourism exports.

“This is a tremendous win for travelers, the travel industry and America’s economy,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association. “The idea to create a presidentially-appointed, U.S. Senate-confirmed position to lead federal travel policy has been around for decades. Thanks to a bipartisan and bicameral group of congressional leaders, the United States will now join all G20 countries with a senior federal official focused on travel.”

U.S. Travel and other industry organizations are seeking to partner with the federal government to lower visitor visa wait times, modernize security screening and leverage new technologies to make travel to the U.S. more seamless and secure.