[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 20 (Tuesday, March 1, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  NOMINATION OF C. GREGORY FARMER AS UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR 
                           TRAVEL AND TOURISM

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the 
nomination of Greg Farmer to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Travel and Tourism. When I look over his resume, I see the record of a 
young man who has tackled a host of issues very familiar to this 
Senator. From coastal zone management to technical training, from 
technology transfer to regulatory streamlining, Mr. Farmer's public 
service has been founded on the notion that Government must be a 
partner, not an antagonist, of the private sector.
  As Secretary of Commerce for the State of Florida, Mr. Farmer has 
overseen an agency of over 280 employees with 9 foreign trade and 
tourism offices. For becoming an expert on tourism, Florida is almost 
as good a training ground as South Carolina. With the Sunshine State 
hosting over 1.3 million visitors on the average day, Mr. Farmer will 
understands the role of tourism as a tool of economic development. He 
also understands that tourism is an avenue for establishing goodwill 
among countries and furthering trade relations. Every time foreign 
visitors come to our country, they gain exposure to U.S. products and 
help promote the United States as a travel destination to their friends 
back home.
  We must not fall into the trap of thinking that tourism means only 
bermuda shorts and instant cameras. Tourism is one of our largest 
industries, ranking as the No. 1 employer in 13 States, including my 
own, and last year domestic and foreign travelers spent $380 billion on 
tourism activities in the United States. It is a clean industry 
creating good jobs.
  At this moment, tourism is a major export success story for the U.S. 
economy. Last year, international visitors to the United States spent a 
total of $74 billion, and foreigners spent $20 billion more here than 
Americans spent traveling abroad. As the market for world tourism grows 
by leaps and bounds, it is imperative that the United States have a 
comprehensive strategy for maintaining our favorable balance of trade 
in this industry. The United States still enjoys the largest share of 
the world tourism market at 19.3 percent, and any decline in that share 
represents million of dollars lost to U.S. hotels, motels, theme parks, 
camps, attractions, restaurants, and retailers.
  Tourism is the bread and butter industry that can bring a State 
through the toughest of times. In the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo in 
1989, the State of South Carolina looked to the tourism industry to let 
the world know that we were back on our feet and open for business. As 
the Government official who led Florida's tourism industry through 
Hurricane Andrew, Greg Farmer well knows this story.
  Mr. Farmer has helped the Florida tourism industry persevere through 
the negative impacts of mosquito outbreaks, hurricanes, and violent 
attacks on tourists. Now he must help the U.S. tourism industry fight 
against a tidal wave of indifference from a Congress that fails to 
understand the importance of this industry.
  The budget of U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration [USTTA] for 
fiscal year 1994 is $17.1 million. I am sure that, when Mr. Farmer 
compares this amount to the $173 million spent by Greece, the $84 
million spent by France, or the $90 million spent by South Korea on 
promotion, he knows he has a great challenge in front of him. The 
United States ranks 23d among nations in spending on tourism promotion; 
even the much smaller country of Cyprus outspends us. While the budget 
situation will continue to be difficult, Mr. Farmer, who was 
administrative assistant to our former colleague Congressman Buddy 
MacKay, will be well prepared to work with the Congress.
  I have joined forces with the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote 
tourism since 1961, when President Kennedy established a tourism office 
under Secretary Luther Hodges. I look forward to working with Mr. 
Farmer as he brings to USTTA his expertise from both national and State 
government service.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me in approving his nomination.

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