[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORTING NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2006

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
729, Supporting National Tourism Week. National Tourism Week, 
established by Congress in 1983, celebrates tourism to our country, the 
hospitality of the American people, and the hard work done by the many 
Americans who are involved directly and indirectly in the tourism and 
hospitality industry. This resolution highlights some of the major 
economic contributions that tourism from domestic and international 
visitors has upon the U.S. economy, at the Federal, State and local 
levels.
  To quantify the U.S. tourism industry as one industry is challenging. 
In fact, the tourism industry in the U.S. is a conglomeration of many 
different industries, the leadership of many individuals at the 
national, State and local levels, and the myriad dreams and interests 
of all those who come to enjoy America's vacation spots, its natural 
wonders, and its historical areas of interest. The strength of the U.S. 
tourism industry is in its diversity and the diversity of the visitors 
it hosts.
  Tourism is vitally important to Guam. The Guam Visitors Bureau, led 
by Chairman David B. Tydingco, Vice Chairman Bruce Kloppenburg, General 
Manager Gerald S.A. Perez, Deputy General Manager Mary C. Torres, and 
its board members and other officers, continues its excellent work 
toward increasing the numbers of visitors to Guam. The Guam Hotel and 
Restaurant Association, led by President David B. Tydingco, Chairman of 
the Board of Directors Bartly Jackson, and members of the board of 
directors, continue to ensure that the visitors to Guam receive a 
world-class level of hospitality, service, and entertainment during 
their stay on-island. The Guam Chamber of Commerce, under the able 
leadership of Chairman Michael T. Benito and President Eloise Baza, 
remains as the lead organization promoting the economic benefits of 
tourism to Guam and the general economic development of the island 
through the growth and diversification of Guam's private sector.
  The vibrant, capable, and professional tourism industry in the United 
States provides individuals, families, and groups the ability to see, 
to experience, and to become a part of the many wonderful tourist 
attractions located across the United States. In doing so, the U.S. 
tourism industry facilitates greater understanding of, respect for, and 
identification with American history, culture and society by both 
Americans and guests from foreign countries. National Tourism Week is 
the celebration of the effort to foster better relations between 
communities within the U.S. and around the world while growing, 
diversifying, and strengthening the U.S. economy by promoting travel 
and tourism to the United States.

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