When President Biden signed a $460 billion package of spending bills on Saturday, the office of the assistant secretary of commerce for travel and tourism was funded.
The U.S. Travel Association was pleased, as the organization had lobbied for the position.
“Funding this critical position is a step in ensuring the long-term global competitiveness of the United States,” said U.S. Travel CEO Geoff Freeman. “While other countries are laser-focused on growing their share of global travel, the U.S. has been stuck in neutral — in part due to a lack of a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to increasing travel.”
Freeman urged the Biden administration to “immediately fill the role and prioritize the travel economy to benefit American workers and all regions across the United States.”
“The assistant secretary will play a valuable role in coordinating across the government to help innovate travel facilitation and address persistent challenges that stand in the way of growth,” Freeman said. “This position will also be integral as the U.S. prepares to host significant international events over the next decade — including the World Cup — and compete for a greater share of the global travel market.”
The assistant secretary role was established in 2022 through passage of the Visit America Act. The position was created to ensure travel issues receive more high-level government focus.
The spending bills were passed by the Senate late Friday to avoid a government shutdown. The bills’ passage also allows for the hiring of more air traffic controllers.
