§2123 — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates an Office of Travel Promotion inside the Department of Commerce. A Director, picked by the Secretary, will lead the office. The Director must be a U.S. citizen with experience in promoting travel and must make sure the office works well and reports to the Secretary. The office will work with the Corporation for Travel Promotion, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to help bring more international visitors for business, leisure, education, medical, exchange, and other purposes; give clear information about entry rules; make arrivals feel welcomed with accurate information; count visitors by State; and improve entry and exit with advertising, signs, and better customer service. It will also support state, regional, and private travel efforts. Within a year after March 4, 2010, and periodically thereafter as appropriate, the Secretary must send a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; the House Committee on Homeland Security; and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs describing the office’s work with the Corporation, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out those duties.

Title 22, §2123

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is established within the Department of Commerce an office to be known as the Office of Travel Promotion.

(b)(1)The Office shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary.

(2)The Director shall be a citizen of the United States and have experience in a field directly related to the promotion of travel to and within the United States.

(3)The Director shall be responsible for ensuring the office is carrying out its functions effectively and shall report to the Secretary.

(c)The Office shall—

(1)serve as liaison to the Corporation for Travel Promotion established by subsection (b) of section 11 of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 11 See References in Text note below. and support and encourage the development of programs to increase the number of international visitors to the United States for business, leisure, educational, medical, exchange, and other purposes;

(2)work with the Corporation, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security—

(A)to disseminate information more effectively to potential international visitors about documentation and procedures required for admission to the United States as a visitor;

(B)to ensure that arriving international visitors are generally welcomed with accurate information and in an inviting manner;

(C)to collect accurate data on the total number of international visitors that visit each State; and

(D)enhance the entry and departure experience for international visitors through the use of advertising, signage, and customer service; and

(3)support State, regional, and private sector initiatives to promote travel to and within the United States.

(d)Within a year after March 4, 2010, and periodically thereafter as appropriate, the Secretary shall transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, and the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs describing the Office’s work with the Corporation, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out subsection (c)(2).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Subsection (b) of section 11 of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), probably should be a reference to subsection (b) of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which is classified to section 2131(b) of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2123, Pub. L. 87–63, title II, § 202, formerly § 3, June 29, 1961, 75 Stat. 130; Pub. L. 91–477, §§ 1, 2, Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1071, 1072; renumbered and amended Pub. L. 97–63, § 3(c), (d), (e)(1), Oct. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1012, 1013; Pub. L. 102–372, §§ 4(n), 6(b), (c), 7, 8(b), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1174, 1176, 1178, enumerated duties of Secretary of Commerce in carrying out national tourism policy, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–288, § 9(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3407.

§2123 Office of Travel Promotion