Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1992

Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1992 - Requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to improve the survey of international air travelers providing data to estimate the U.S. balance of payments in international travel. Establishes the Rural Tourism Development Foundation. Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to authorize the Secretary to assist the Foundation in the development and promotion of rural tourism. Declares as further purposes of the national tourism policy: (1) optimizing the contributions of the tourism and recreation industries with respect to U.S. international competitiveness; (2) increasing U.S. export earnings from tourism and transportation services traded internationally; (3) ensuring the orderly growth and development of tourism; (4) coordinating and encouraging the development of the tourism industry in rural communities; and (5) promoting increased and more effective investment in international tourism by the States, local governments, and cooperative tourism marketing programs. Includes as duties of the Secretary: (1) to encourage the development of receptive, linguistic, informational, currency exchange, meal, and package tour services required by the international market; (2) to provide export promotion services for States, local governments, and companies in the United States that sell tourism services in the international market; and (3) to advise and provide technical assistance to U.S. firms seeking to facilitate travel to and from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and to compile statistics on such travel. Requires the Secretary in performing such duties to: (1) provide financial assistance to cooperative tourism marketing programs; and (2) encourage the use of U.S. providers of travel products and services. Requires the Secretary's tourism trade development efforts to focus on the markets which have the greatest potential for increasing travel and tourism export revenues. Sets forth a procedure for selecting such markets. Modifies eligibility requirements with respect to the provision of financial assistance to States under the cooperative tourism marketing program. Requires the Secretary to: (1) identify and analyze acts, policies, or practices of foreign countries that constitute barriers to, or distortions of U.S. travel and tourism exports; (2) estimate the trade-distorting impact on U.S. commerce of any such act, policy, or practice; and (3) estimate the value of additional U.S. travel and tourism exports that would have been exported to such foreign countries if such acts, policies, and practices did not exist. Requires the Secretary to take appropriate action to ensure that: (1) foreign tourists are not unnecessarily delayed when entering the United States; and (2) the international processing standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization is met. Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees on the goals achieved by the United States Travel and Tourism Administration (USTTA) as part of the evaluation of such Administration. Abolishes the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing. Requires the Secretary to designate a Deputy Under Secretary for Tourism Trade Development to help facilitate the interaction between industry and government regarding tourism trade development. Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to continue to seek the assistance of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service to assist the USTTA in stimulating and encouraging travel to the United States by foreign residents. Limits administrative expenses of the USTTA for FY 1993 and subsequent fiscal years. Adds as members to the Tourism Policy council the Secretary of Agriculture, the Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers of the Army, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and the Commissioner of Customs. Requires up to three Federal departments and agencies represented on such Council to detail to the Council, for every year, one staff person and associated resources. Requires at least two members of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to be representatives of the States (and at least one member to be a city representative) who are knowledgeable of tourism promotion. Revises the length of service of members on the Board. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1996. Makes such funds available for the printing of travel promotional materials for two fiscal years. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the feasibility of publishing international travel receipts and payments on a monthly basis; (2) the tourism trade between the United States and emerging democracies of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union; (3) activities to increase tourism opportunities for, and encourage travel by, disabled persons; (4) efforts to improve visitor facilitation; and (5) the offices of the United States Travel and Tourism Administration located in foreign countries (including Europe and Africa, Asia and the Pacific region, North America, South America, and the Caribbean region), with analysis and recommendation with respect to possible cost reductions and marketing efficiencies.

Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1991 - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to include as purposes of the national tourism policy: (1) to optimize the contributions of the tourism and recreation industries with respect to U.S. international competitiveness; (2) to increase U.S. export earnings from tourism and transportation services traded internationally; (3) to ensure the orderly growth and development of tourism; (4) to coordinate and encourage the development of the tourism industry in rural communities; and (5) to promote increased and more effective investment in international tourism by the States, local governments, and cooperative tourism marketing programs. Includes as duties of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary): (1) to encourage the development of receptive, linguistic, informational, currency exchange, meal, and package tour services required by the international market; (2) to provide export promotion services for States, local governments, and companies in the United States that sell tourism services in the international market; and (3) to advise and provide technical assistance to U.S. firms seeking to facilitate travel to and from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe and to compile statistics on such travel. Allows the use of appropriations for certain printing purposes. Repeals the annual reporting requirement of the Secretary of Commerce under the International Travel Act of 1961. Revises the membership of the Tourism Policy Council. Requires up to three Federal departments and agencies represented on such Council to detail to it for each year one staff person and associated resources. Requires the Secretary's tourism development efforts to focus on markets which have the greatest potential for increasing travel and tourism export revenues. Describes the generic promotion program under which the Secretary may award grants to carry out proposals to develop and implement tourism development programs, including cooperative tourism marketing programs. Requires at least two members of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to be representatives of the States (and at least one member to be a city representative) who are knowledgeable of tourism promotion. Revises the length of service of members on the Board. Requires the Board to send its comments to the Congress with regard to a marketing plan to stimulate travel to the United States. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) acts, policies, or practices of each foreign country that constitute significant barriers to, or distortions of, U.S. travel and tourism exports; (2) an estimate of the trade-distorting impact on U.S. commerce of such acts, policies, or practices; and (3) an estimate, if feasible, on the value of additional U.S. travel and tourism exports that would have been exported to each foreign country if the acts, policies, and practices of such country did not exist. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on action taken to ensure that foreign tourists are not unnecessarily delayed when entering the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to local and State cooperative tourism marketing programs. Requires the Secretary to undertake annually at least five demonstration projects in regions with underutilized tourism potential to help develop such programs in such regions. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress annually on the goals achieved by the United States Travel and Tourism Administration (USTTA) as part of the evaluation of such Administration. Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to continue to seek the assistance of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service to assist the USTTA in stimulating and encouraging travel to the United States by foreign residents. Abolishes the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing. Establishes a Deputy Under Secretary for Tourism Trade Development. Establishes three regional offies of the USTTA to be based in, and responsible for, the following geographic areas: (1) Europe and Africa; (2) Asia and the Pacific Region; and (3) North America, South America, and the Caribbean region. Limits administrative expenses of the USTTA for FY 1993 and subsequent fiscal years. Requires a report to the Congress on a study regarding: (1) economic effects associated with the public identification and promotion of scenic travel as a tourist attraction; and (2) techniques for incorporating scenic travel into tourism development programs. Directs the Secretary to publish monthly statistical reports on U.S. international travel receipts and payments prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on activities to increase tourism opportunities for, and encourage travel by, disabled persons. Declares that the Congress finds that increased efforts directed at the promotion of rural tourism will contribute to the economic development of rural America. Establishes the Rural Tourism Development Foundation. Authorizes the Secretary to assist the Foundation in the development and promotion of rural tourism. Sets forth reporting requirements for the Secretary concerning: (1) the status of the efforts to improve the survey of international air travelers; and (2) the feasibility of publishing international travel receipts and payments on a monthly basis. Requires a report to specified congressional committees on assistance to U.S. firms seeking to facilitate travel to and from the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993, 1994, and 1995.

Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1991 - Requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to improve the survey of international air travelers providing data to estimate the U.S. balance of payments in international travel, and report to the Congress on such efforts. Requires the Secretary to: (1) identify acts, policies, or practices of foreign countries that constitute barriers to, or distortions of U.S. travel and tourism exports; (2) estimate the trade-distorting impact on U.S. commerce of any such act, policy, or practice; and (3) estimate the value of additional U.S. travel and tourism exports that would have been exported to such foreign countries if such acts, policies, and practices did not exist. Requires a report to specified congressional committees. Requires the Secretary to take appropriate action to ensure that: (1) foreign tourists are not unnecessarily delayed when entering the United States; and (2) the international processing standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization is met. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on efforts to improve visitor facilitation and their effect on U.S. travel and tourism. Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to abolish the requirement that the Secretary submit to the Congress an annual marketing plan to stimulate and encourage travel to the United States. Requires the Secretary's tourism trade development efforts to focus on the markets which have the greatest potential for increasing travel and tourism export revenues. Directs the Secretary to implement generic advertising and other tourism trade development efforts directed at such markets. Requires at least two members of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to be representatives of the States (and at least one member to to be a city representative) knowledgeable of tourism promotion. Revises the length of service of members on the Board. Requires the Secretary to ensure that the services of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service continue to be available to assist the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration in stimulating and encouraging foreign residents to travel to the United States. Declares that the Congress finds that increased efforts directed at the promotion of rural tourism will contribute to the economic development of rural America. Establishes the Rural Tourism Development Foundation. Authorizes the Secretary to assist the Foundation in the development and promotion of rural tourism. Declares as further purposes of the national tourism policy: (1) optimizing the contributions of the tourism and recreation industries with respect to U.S. international competitiveness; (2) increasing U.S. export earnings from tourism and transportation services traded internationally; (3) ensuring the orderly growth and development of tourism; and (4) coordinating and encouraging the development of the tourism industry in rural communities. Includes as one of the duties of the Secretary the development of receptive, linguistic, informational, currency exchange, meal, and package tour services required by the international market. Allows the use of appropriations for printing of travel promotional materials. Repeals specified provisions of the International Travel Act of 1961 with respect to: (1) a certain report regarding the Secretary's activities with respect to U.S. tourism; and (2) assistance to States for implementation of regional tourism promotional and marketing programs. Adds as members to the Tourism Policy Council the Secretary of Agriculture, the Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers of the Army, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Commissioner of Customs, and the Attorney General. Requires up to three Federal departments and agencies represented on such Council to detail to the Council for each year one staff person and associated resources. Abolishes the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing. Requires the Secretary to designate a Deputy Under Secretary for Tourism Trade Development to help facilitate the interaction between industry and government regarding tourism trade development. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1995. Directs the Secretary to enter into arrangements with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to study the current knowledge of the health benefits of travel for domestic and international tourists. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the activities of the Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies to increase tourism opportunities for, and encourage travel by, disabled persons.

Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1991 - Declares it to be the national goal to increase U.S. export earnings from U.S. tourism and transportation services traded internationally and to maintain a travel and tourism export surplus to help eliminate the U.S. trade deficit. Requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to improve the survey of international air travelers providing data to estimate the U.S. balance of payments in international travel, and report to the Congress on such efforts. Requires the Secretary to: (1) identify acts, policies, or practices of foreign countries that constitute barriers to, or distortions of U.S. travel and tourism exports; (2) estimate the trade-distorting impact on U.S. commerce of any such act, policy, or practice; and (3) estimate the value of additional U.S. travel and tourism exports that would have been exported to such foreign countries if such acts, policies, and practices did not exist. Requires the Secretary to take appropriate action to ensure that foreign tourists are not unnecessarily delayed when entering the United States. Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to require the Secretary to submit to the Congress annual tourism trade development plans to stimulate travel to the United States. Requres such a plan to focus on those countries in which tourism trade development has the greatest potential for increasing travel and tourism export revenues. Requires at least one member of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to be a city representative knowledgeable of tourism promotion. Revises the length of service of members on the Board. Requires the Board to send its comments to the Congress with regard to a marketing plan to stimulate travel to the United States. Declares that the Congress finds that increased efforts directed at the promotion of rural tourism will contribute to the economic development of rural America. Establishes the Rural Tourism Development Foundation. Authorizes the Secretary to assist the Foundation in the development and promotion of rural tourism. Directs the Secretary to assemble information on economic activity associated with scenic and recreational travel, including case studies of existing scenic byways. Requires the Secretary to study and transmit to the Congress a report on such information. Sets forth specified policy considerations with respect to national tourism. Adds as members to the Tourism Policy Council the Secretary of Agriculture, the Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers of the Army, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1993.