[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3965-S3966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 108--TO DESIGNATE MAY 4-12, 2002, AS 
                       ``NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK''

  Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. Reid) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 108

       Whereas travel and tourism has a major impact on the 
     economy of the United States as the third largest retail 
     sales industry in the Nation;
       Whereas 1 out of every 7 people employed in the United 
     States civilian labor force is employed in the travel and 
     tourism industry;
       Whereas international travel to the United States is the 
     largest service export, having generated a trade surplus for 
     13 consecutive years;
       Whereas domestic and international travel generated an 
     estimated $545,000,000,000 in expenditures in 2001, 
     supporting more than 7,800,000 jobs, and creating more than

[[Page S3966]]

     $94,400,000,000 in tax revenue for Federal, State, and local 
     governments;
       Whereas the slowing of the United States economy and the 
     horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have had a 
     tremendous negative effect on the tourism industry;
       Whereas according to the Travel Industry Association, the 
     travel and tourism industry would suffer a $43,000,000,000 
     decrease in spending from domestic and international 
     travelers due to the September 11, 2001, attacks;
       Whereas the Department of Commerce has issued preliminary 
     figures indicating that international travel to the United 
     States decreased 11 percent between 2000 and 2001, resulting 
     in a 45 percent decrease in the travel trade surplus (from 
     $14,000,000,000 to $7,700,000,000), and that it may take 3 
     years for international travel to return to the 2000 level;
       Whereas decreased spending in 2001 caused the travel and 
     tourism industry to lose an estimated 600,000 jobs, and 
     resulted in an estimated 3 percent decrease in tax revenues 
     from such industry;
       Whereas National Tourism Week was established by Congress 
     in 1983, and first celebrated in May 1984, when President 
     Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging 
     citizens to observe the week ``with appropriate ceremonies 
     and activities;
       Whereas since 1984, National Tourism Week has been 
     celebrated each May by the Travel Industry Association of 
     America, as well as many States, cities, and other travel 
     industry associations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) designates May 4-12, 2002, as ``National Tourism Week; 
     and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     National Tourism Week with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities.

                          ____________________