SHAHEEN: TOURISM BILL WILL PROMOTE JOBS, ECONOMY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Shaheen backed bipartisan tourism bill advances in committee
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) welcomed the advance of legislation that will boost New Hampshire’s tourism industry and economy, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act, of which she is an original cosponsor, after the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation yesterday passed the bill with bipartisan support. The bill would encourage travel to the United States by reauthorizing and improving Brand USA, a public-private partnership established to attract foreign tourists to the United States. Companion legislation passed in the House of Representatives 347-57 earlier this week.
“Tourism supports more than 60,000 New Hampshire jobs and is one of New Hampshire’s most important industries. Anything we can do to boost the industry is good for our economy as a whole,” said Shaheen. “I’ve been a strong supporter of Brand USA and its mission from the very beginning, and I hope the full Senate will clear its reauthorization quickly.”
Brand USA was established in 2010 with Shaheen’s support and has helped strengthen New Hampshire’s tourism industry ever since. The tourism industry is New Hampshire’s second largest and direct spending by New Hampshire visitors was $4.48 billion in 2012, producing more than $151 million in revenue for the state through meals and rooms taxes.
