On the eve of the White House “Jobs Summit,” a travel association says the travel industry could be the key to economic recovery.
“There’s no doubt that if we can stimulate travel, this industry can help to turn the economy around,” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow said in a news release. “Building a plan for economic recovery that drives significant increases in travel would help to create tens of thousands of American jobs.”
Dow sent a letter to President Obama and Congress outlining seven “immediate” and “medium-term” proposals “crucial to job creation.” The proposals include “tax incentives for job-creating travel, targeted efforts to promote international travel and government funding to remove roadblocks to an efficient travel infrastructure,” Dow wrote in his letter.
According to the association, 400,000 travel jobs were “lost” in 2008 and 2009. But, 90,000 jobs could be created in 2010. TIA previously said leisure travel is expected to rise 2 percent, while business travel is projected to increase 2.5 percent and inbound international travel is estimated to increase roughly 3 percent, according to the association.
The travel industry currently employs 7.7 million Americans.