PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cathy Keefe (TIA)
(202) 408.2183
ckeefe@tia.org, www.tia.org

June 22, 2006

INDUSTRY LEADERS TESTIFY ON UNIQUE ROLE TRAVEL CAN PLAY IN HELPING IMPROVE U.S. IMAGE

WASHINGTON, DC — Three travel industry leaders testified today before a Senate subcommittee on the challenges facing the U.S. travel industry and the unique role travel can play in helping improve America’s image around the world.

Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Travel Industry Association and Chairman U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board; Jonathan Tisch, Chairman, Travel Business Roundtable; and Todd Davidson, Chair, National Council of State Tourism Directors; were unified in demonstrating the need to reach out to the growing global travel market whether through a marketing program or friendlier borders.

Rasulo, who also serves as Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, referenced the recent Pew Global Attitudes Survey, which found that opinion of the U.S. has fallen in many parts of the world. He said the industry can be a powerful partner to help overcome negative misperceptions about the U.S. and that “we can’t afford not to invest in this form of grassroots public diplomacy.”

Tisch, who also serves as Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, remarked that “at a time when the U.S. is the travel bargain of the world, we are still losing international travel market share.” Although global travel has increased 52 percent in the past 15 years, America’s share of that lucrative travel market declined by 35 percent.

Studies consistently show that people from other countries who visit the U.S. leave with a significantly higher opinion of our nation and our people than those who have never been here.

Full testimonies for Rasulo and Tisch can be viewed here and Davidson’s can be viewed here.

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