BTC Applauds Senate Hearings on Travel

The Business Travel Coalition (BTC) applauded yesterday’s hearing by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion and urged the Committee to take swift and decisive action to help the industry regain its footing.

“Few other industries generate the amount of revenue, or employ as many people, as travel and tourism,” said BTC chairman Kevin Mitchell. “As such, our industry represents a vital stimulant to our nation’s economy.  Equally, its impairment, as a result of many factors beyond the control of the industry, represents a devastating hit to our nation’s well being.

“At a time when an industry as important to our nation as travel and tourism is in peril, I am hopeful that Congress will focus on coherent energy, infrastructure and environmental policy solutions, as well as travel promotion activities, that are necessary to help return travel and tourism to the vibrant industry that is so vital to our nation’s economy and American’s lives,” said
Mitchell.

The travel and tourism industry is at a critical juncture, having been hit hard over the past year with a succession of violent storms including economic recession, skyrocketing and unstable fuel prices, public criticism of valid business travel practices, and most recently, a swine flu “infodemic” that has caused a panic rather than a rational response, the BTC said.

BTC also encouraged policymakers to focus their attention on much needed policies to ensure travel sustainability.

Visit www.businesstravelcoalition.com.