The travel industry is expected to add roughly 90,000 American jobs during 2010, the U.S. Travel Association (TIA) announced.
TIA noted that leisure travel is expected to rise 2 percent, while business travel is projected to increase 2.5 percent. At the same time, inbound international travel is estimated to increase roughly 3 percent, according to the association.
“Our industry is uniquely capable of adapting to economic upswings and quickly adding tens of thousands of jobs,” Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a news release. “What we announce today is based upon modest increases in travel. Given its immense potential, we call on the Administration and Members of Congress to build a plan for economic recovery that drives significant increases in travel.”
The travel industry currently employs 7.7 million Americans, according to TIA. Any federal recovery plan should include the passage of the Travel Promotion Act, which TIA says encourages millions of travelers to visit the United States.
“Projected growth in leisure travel is an indicator of rising consumer confidence and disposable income,” Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the U.S. Travel Association, said in a news release. “Following a difficult 2009, businesses have a heightened focus on the value and bottom-line benefits of travel. We expect to see a slight increase in business travel next year based in part on pent-up demand for face-to-face meetings that drive growth and productivity.”
