[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 53 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOURISM AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY

                                 ______


                       HON. BARBARA F. VUCANOVICH

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 1994

  Mrs. VUCANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity 
today to recognize the importance of the tourism and travel industry, 
not only in the great State of Nevada, but in our Nation as a whole. I 
mention this today because May 2 through May 8 is National Tourism 
Week. It is one week set aside each May since 1984 to recognize the 
economic and cultural impact of this vital industry.
  For me, the mention of travel and tourism in my State of Nevada often 
brings to mind thoughts of places like Great Basin Park, the Lake Tahoe 
region, the overwhelming beauty of the high desert regions in rural 
Nevada, Hoover Dam, and last but certainly not least the wonders found 
in Reno and Las Vegas; but it is much more. The travel and tourism 
industry is our Nation's second largest employer, providing 6 million 
jobs, and is a $360 billion a year enterprise. Tourism accounts for 46 
percent of all jobs in the state of Nevada, more than 290,000.
  Tourism is our Nation's largest services business, and accounts for 
11 percent of total exports of goods and services. International 
tourism spending--the amount of money international visitors spend on 
travel arrangements to this country, combined with the money that they 
spend while they are here--is greater than the spending on commodities 
such as automobiles, computers and even agricultural products.
  I would again like to acknowledge the importance of the travel and 
tourism industry for the key role that it plays in both my home State 
of Nevada, and the Nation as a whole.

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