During the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) annual cruise3sixty conference at the Broward County Convention Center, the cruise industry turned out to support the U.S. Travel Association’s “Vote Travel – Get America Moving” grassroots campaign. The campaign calls attention to the economic importance of the travel industry.
CLIA President and CEO Christine Duffy and conference delegates welcomed the USTA Vote Travel bus tour as part of its 20,000-mile nationwide journey to raise awareness of the significant economic impact of the $1.8 trillion U.S. travel industry.
Speaking to cruise3sixty delegates, USTA President and CEO Roger Dow said, “We are galvanizing support and asking all Americans to 'Vote Travel' this election season."
Endorsing the USTA campaign, Duffy said, “Travel is a bipartisan industry. Vote Travel is not an endorsement of any political candidate or political party; it’s a vote to Get America Moving. The cruise industry’s economic contribution is substantial, contributing more than $40 million annually to the U.S. economy and generating more than 350,000 jobs a year. It’s vitally important that this industry and the public stand up and advocate for the importance of travel and tourism.”
Arriving in Greater Fort Lauderdale after visiting almost 20 states, the Vote Travel bus tour’s mission is to raise awareness with elected officials and candidates about the travel industry’s economic contribution to the U.S. economy.
The campaign hopes to engage travel industry employees in the electoral process through voter registration drives and the Get America Moving Candidate Pledge. One goal is to grow the USTA grassroots network, the Power of Travel Coalition.
The Coalition works to make travel a priority in local, state, and federal elected bodies. The tour will continue throughout the country, including visits to the political conventions of both political parties.
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