PRESS RELEASE

September 26, 2007

MEDIA STATEMENT FROM TIA AND TBR

The Travel Industry Association (TIA) and the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) support the “Improving Public Diplomacy through International Travel Act” introduced by Reps. Sam Farr (CA) and Jon Porter (NV), co-chairs of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus.  By authoring this legislation, Reps. Farr and Porter demonstrate how there is great value in international travel even beyond the jobs and economic value created.  They are rightly seizing on the ability of inbound international travel to reshape opinions about the United States one visitor at a time.  By welcoming more international travelers, our nation stands to gain in ways that cannot be measured in dollars and cents.  This legislation recognizes that having the world see America and Americans up close and personal is perhaps our greatest public diplomacy tool and surest way to enhance our standing in the world.