[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                TOURISM

                                 ______


                         HON. VICTOR O. FRAZER

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 1996

  Mr. FRAZER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my strong support 
for H.R. 2579, the Travel and Tourism Partnership Act of 1995. This 
bill establishes the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism 
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United 
States.
  Tourism is one of this country's largest exports. Presently the 
United States does not have an effective mechanism for promoting U.S. 
tourism. H.R. 2579 establishes a national tourism organization as a 
nonfederal and nonprofit organization to implement a national travel 
and tourism strategy.
  Tourism is the second largest industry in the Virgin Islands. In 1993 
St. Croix, VI, had 23,740 jobs, but that amount decreased in 1995 to 
17,850, according to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce. When tourism in 
the U.S. Virgin Islands suffers it has a rippling effect--small 
businesses and retail shops who depend on tourism feel the impact when 
tourists are absent. The tourism market currently is depressed because 
of Hurricane Marilyn and because of the limited resources of the Virgin 
Islands government. The Virgin Islands is unable to attract tourists to 
spend money because they do not have the tax base to support national 
and international marketing activities.
  The Travel and Tourism Partnership Act will enhance the limited 
resources of the Virgin Islands. Presently we do not have a national 
strategy which links State and local marketing with national marketing 
activities. This legislation will create a national and local marketing 
strategy for tourism.

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