H.R. 6128: Vital Investment in Sustaining International Tourism to the USA Act

This bill, known as the Vital Investment in Sustaining International Tourism to the USA Act, proposes to transfer $160,000,000 from the Travel Promotion Fund to an organization called Brand USA. Brand USA is the official marketing organization for the United States, created to promote international tourism to the country.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of the Treasury is required to carry out the transfer of funds within 30 days after the bill becomes law.
• This transfer will be made from funds that have been collected through fees under a specific part of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• The transferred amount will be exempt from any limitations that would normally apply under the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which regulates how much can be transferred from this fund.
• There are certain requirements related to matching funds and carryforward provisions from the Travel Promotion Act that still apply to this transferred amount.

Purpose of the Bill

The primary aim of this legislative measure is to bolster international tourism to the United States, which has been significantly affected by various factors in recent years. By providing additional funding to Brand USA, the bill intends to enhance the marketing efforts to attract more visitors from other countries.

Financial Implications

The bill facilitates the use of previously collected fees, indicating a focus on utilizing available resources to stimulate growth in the tourism sector without requiring new taxation or funding from the federal budget.

Overall Impact

This legislative measure seeks to support the tourism industry by increasing Brand USA's ability to promote the United States as a travel destination. The funds are intended to be used for marketing campaigns and initiatives aimed at international travelers, which could lead to an increase in tourism revenue for the states and local economies.

Relevant Companies

• ABNB (Airbnb Inc.): Likely to benefit from increased international travel and tourism.
• EXPE (Expedia Group Inc.): May see an increase in bookings and travel packages due to elevated marketing efforts by Brand USA.
• MAR (Marriott International Inc.): Likely to benefit from an uptick in international visitors requiring accommodation.