[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          UNITED STATES-MEXICO TOURISM IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 10, 2019

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 951, 
the ``United States-Mexico Tourism Improvement Act of 2019.''
  H.R. 951 addresses the decline in tourist activity between the United 
States and Mexico.
  The bill aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the 
United States and Mexican tourism industries by advocating for 
increased cooperation through both government and non-governmental 
channels.
  Specifically, the legislation seeks to--
  improve third-party tourism to both countries through joint 
international promotional efforts;
  prioritize exchange programs in various economic sectors; and
  promote cross-border medical partnerships.
  Mexico is the biggest source of international visitors to the United 
States after Canada.
  In 2016, Mexican tourism to the United States peaked at 18,990,585 
visitors, constituting 1 in 4 (24.9 percent) of all tourists that year.
  Additionally, in 2016, spending by Mexican tourists in the United 
States totaled $20.3 billion, which represented a 3 percent growth from 
2015.
  In 2017, international tourist arrivals totaled 76,900,000, up 0.7 
percent from 76,400,000 in 2016.
  The same year, 77,000,000 international visitors spent a record 
$251.4 billion on hotels, travel, food, and souvenirs, a 2-percent 
increase over 2016.
  However, also in 2017, there was a 6.1-percent decline in visitors to 
the United States from Mexico, comprising a loss of 1,166,585 Mexican 
tourists from 2016.
  The Department of Commerce has not yet released 2017 spending totals 
by Mexican tourists in the United States, but a corresponding monetary 
decline would be approximately $1.24 billion in lost revenue.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 951 
to promote bilateral tourism through the United States and Mexico.

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