22 U.S.C. § 2122: Powers and duties of Secretary of Commerce

collect and publish comprehensive international travel and tourism statistics and other marketing information; design, implement, and publish international travel and tourism forecasting models; facilitate the reduction or elimination of barriers to international travel and tourism; and coordinating the Federal implementation of a national travel and tourism policy; representing the United States’ international travel and tourism interests to foreign governments; and maintaining United States participation in international travel and tourism trade shows and fairs until such activities can be transferred to such Organization and other private sector entities. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to award grants and make direct lump sum payments in support of an international advertising and promotional campaign developed in consultation with the private sector to encourage individuals to travel to the United States consisting of radio, television, and print advertising and marketing programs. The United States Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board (hereinafter ‘Board’) is established to recommend the appropriate coordinated activities to the Secretary for funding. The Secretary shall appoint the Board within 30 days of enactment [ Feb. 20, 2003 ] and shall include tourism-related entities he deems appropriate. The Secretary shall consult with the Board and State and regional tourism officials on the disbursement of funds. There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000, to remain available until expended, and $50,000,000 is appropriated to implement this section.” expanding the survey to cover travel to and from the Middle East, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean and enhancing coverage for Mexico, Oceania, the Far East, and Europe; and improving the methodology for conducting on-board surveys by (A) enhancing communications, training, and liaison activities in cooperation with participating air carriers, (B) providing for the continuation of needed data bases, and (C) utilizing improved sampling procedures.