National Tourism Policy Act

(Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 97-252) National Tourism Policy Act - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to establish a national policy to promote the U.S. tourism and recreation industries. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) establish facilitation services at major U.S. ports-of-entry; (2) consult with foreign governments on travel and tourism and represent U.S. travel and tourism interests; (3) develop and administer a program for travel industry information, data service, training and education, and technical assistance; (4) develop a program to provide Federal agencies with information regarding the needs and interests of the tourism industry; (5) encourage travel to and from the United States on U.S. carriers; (6) assure coordination within the Department of Commerce to implement a national tourism policy; and (7) submit annually to Congress a marketing plan to promote travel to the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to regions of not less than two States or portions of two States for the implementation of regional tourism promotional and marketing programs which shall serve as demonstration projects. Establishes in the Department of Commerce a United States Travel and Tourism Administration (in lieu of the present U.S. Travel Service) headed by an Under Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism. Directs the Secretary to designate an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing who shall be responsible for the marketing plan required by this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from: (1) reducing the number of foreign offices of the Administration or the number of Administration employees assigned to foreign countries below the number of U.S. Travel Service employees assigned to foreign countries in fiscal year 1979; and (2) reducing the amounts obligated for the Administration foreign offices below the amounts obligated in fiscal year 1980 for foreign offices of the U.S. Travel Service. Establishes a Tourism Policy Council to coordinate policies and programs relating to tourism, recreation, or national heritage resources involving Federal departments or agencies. Requires Federal departments and agencies to make available any personnel, information, and services which the Council may request. Directs the Council to establish policy committees to monitor specific areas of Federal activity related to tourism. Requires the Council to report annually to the President for transmittal to Congress. Establishes the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to advise the Secretary on the implementation of such Act and the Assistant Secretary for Tourism Marketing in the preparation of the marketing plan. Requires the Board to report annually on its activities. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982.

(Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. R. 1311) National Tourism Policy Act - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to change the name of such Act to the Tourism Promotion Act of 1981. Establishes a national policy to promote the U.S. tourism and recreation industries. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) establish nine offices in foreign countries, in addition to any which the Secretary may deem necessary and desirable; (2) establish facilitation services at major U.S. ports-of-entry; (3) consult with foreign governments on travel and tourism and represent U.S. travel and tourism interests; (4) develop and administer a program for travel industry information, data service, training and education, and technical assistance; (5) develop a program to provide Federal agencies with information regarding the needs and interests of the tourism industry; (6) encourage travel to and from the United States on U.S. carriers; (7) assure coordination within the Department of Commerce to implement a national tourism policy; and (8) submit annually to Congress a marketing plan to promote travel to the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to regions of not less than two States or portions of two States for the implementation of regional tourism promotional and marketing programs which shall serve as demonstration projects. Establishes in the Department of Commerce a United States Travel and Tourism Administration (in lieu of the present U.S. Travel Service) headed by an Under Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism. Directs the Secretary to designate an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing who shall be responsible for the marketing plan required by this Act. Establishes a Tourism Policy Council to coordinate policies and programs relating to tourism, recreation, or national heritage resources involving Federal departments or agencies. Requires Federal departments and agencies to make available any personnel, information, and services which the Council may request. Directs the Council to establish policy committees to monitor specific areas of Federal activity related to tourism. Requires the Council to report annually to the President for transmittal to Congress. Establishes the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to advise the Secretary on the implementation of such Act and the Assistant Secretary for Tourism Marketing in the preparation of the marketing plan. Requires the Board to report annually on its activities. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982. Directs the Secretary to establish the nine foreign offices required by this Act with funds appropriated for the International Trade Administration.

National Tourism Policy Act - Title I: National Tourism Policy - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to establish a cooperative effort between the Federal Government, State and local governments, and other concerned public and private organizations to implement a national tourism policy. Title II: United States Travel and Tourism Administration - Establishes, as an independent agency, the United States Travel and Tourism Administration. Sets forth the terms of office, compensation, powers, and duties of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator. Authorizes the Administration to assist Congress and the Federal agencies having policy and programmatic responsibilities affecting tourism. Directs the Administrator, by April 15, 1982, to submit a detailed tourism development plan to specified Congressional committees. Requires each Federal agency, upon the request of the Administrator, to: (1) make its services, personnel, and facilities available to assist the Administration; and (2) furnish the Administration necessary information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics. Prohibits the Administration from providing or arranging for transportation or accommodations in competition with businesses engaged in providing or arranging for such transportation or accommodations. Directs the Administration to submit budget information, legislative recommendations, prepared testimony for congressional hearings, and reports to the President or to the Office of Management and Budget and, concurrently, to Congress. Directs the Administration to submit an annual report to the President for transmittal to Congress. Directs the United States Travel Service to make a specified sum available to the Administration within 30 days of the date of enactment of this Act. Establishes the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Sets forth the membership, compensation, and duties of such Board. Directs the United States Travel Service to complete the transfer of its assets, powers, duties, and privileges to the Administration within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Abolishes the United States Travel Service upon completion of such transfer. Title III: Amendments to the International Travel Act - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 1981 to carry out the purposes of such Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial assistance to a region of not less than two States or portions of two States to assist in the implementation of a regional tourism promotional and marketing program. Declares that any such program shall serve as a demonstration project for future program development for regional tourism promotion. Extends until September 30, 1981, the time limit for the reduction in the number of employees of the United States Travel Service. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from reducing: (1) the number of United States Travel Service employees in offices in foreign countries to a level below that authorized for fiscal year 1979; and (2) the amount of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for financing the activities of such foreign offices to a level below that authorized for fiscal year 1980.

(Measure passed Senate, amended) National Tourism Policy Act - Title I: National Tourism Policy - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to establish a cooperative effort between the Federal Government, State and local governments, and other concerned public and private organizations to implement a national tourism policy. Title II: United States Travel and Tourism Administration - Establishes, as an independent agency, the United States Travel and Tourism Administration. Sets forth the terms of office, compensation, powers, and duties of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator. Authorizes the Administration to assist Congress and the Federal agencies having policy and programmatic responsibilities affecting tourism. Directs the Administrator, by April 15, 1982, to submit a detailed tourism development plan to specified Congressional committees. Requires, upon the request of the Administrator, each Federal agency to: (1) make its services, personnel, and facilities available to assist the Administration; and (2) furnish the Administration necessary information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics. Prohibits the Administration from providing or arranging for transportation or accommodations in competition with businesses engaged in providing or arranging for such transportation or accommodations. Directs the Administration to submit budget information, legislative recommendations, prepared testimony for congressional hearings, and reports to the President or to the Office of Management and Budget and, concurrently, to Congress. Directs the Administration to submit an annual report to the President for transmittal to Congress. Directs the United States Travel Service to make a specified sum available to the Administration within 30 days of the date of enactment of this Act. Establishes the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Sets forth the membership, compensation, and duties of such Board. Directs the United States Travel Service to complete the transfer of its assets, powers, duties, and privileges to the Administration within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Abolishes the United States Travel Service upon completion of such transfer. Title III: Amendments to the International Travel Act - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 1981 to carry out the purposes of such Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial assistance to a region of not less than two States or portions of two States to assist in the implementation of a regional tourism promotional and marketing program. Declares that any such program shall serve as a demonstration project for future program development for regional tourism promotion. Extends until September 30, 1981, the time limit for the reduction in the number of employees of the United States Travel Service. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from reducing: (1) the number of United States Travel Service employees in offices in foreign countries to a level below that authorized for fiscal year 1979; and (2) the amount of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for financing the activities of such foreign offices to a level below that authorized for fiscal year 1980.