U.S. Travel Association Says Brand USA Paying Dividends

washington dcA new return-on-investment study released by Brand USA, the public-private partnership created by Congress in 2010 to market the United States as a destination for international travel, won praise from U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow. "At long last, it is not just anecdotal: The empirical evidence clearly demonstrates that Brand USA works."

"One of the easiest and most expedient ways to grow the U.S. economy is to tap into the international travel market, and in its brief existence, Brand USA has already paid vast dividends toward that end," Dow said.

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"Even much smaller countries spend tens of millions of dollars to promote themselves as destinations, and before Brand USA, there was no agency or entity that was performing that marketing function for the U.S. In a global tourism market that is hyper-competitive, Brand USA has already gone a long way toward leveling that playing field, bringing billions of dollars in new overseas spending to our economy," Dow said. "The best part: Brand USA is doing this at zero cost to the taxpayer, thanks to the innovative funding mechanism created by Congress."

The benefits of international travel are phenomenal, Dow said. "Every 33 additional overseas visitors to the U.S. creates one unexportable, high-quality American job. Inbound travel is considered an export, and already creates the third-largest trade surplus of any U.S. industry."

The goal of attracting 100 million overseas travelers annually by 2021, is achievable Dow said. "We can get there, but only if we equip our economy with the proper tools, and that needs to start with reauthorizing Brand USA this year."

Visit www.ustravel.org