Voters Want Candidates to Address Travel Concerns

On the cusp of one of the busiest travel periods of the year, surveys of likely presidential primary voters in two key states reveal that travel issues are of significant importance to the electorate, according to a survey conducted by the Travel Industry Association, National Tour Association and Travel Business Roundtable. Stung by a summer of travel delays and a 17 percent decline in overseas visitation to the U.S. since September 11, voters in South Carolina and Florida feel the government can do far more to improve the travel system while enhancing security. Moreover, voters are looking for a presidential candidate to make the increasingly difficult travel process a priority on their agenda.

The Travel Industry Association, National Tour Association and Travel Business Roundtable are pushing legislation that would create the first-ever U.S. promotion program aimed at bringing in international travelers, and the groups say there is a real opportunity for presidential candidates willing to make travel issues a priority. Visit www.tia.org. (DB)