[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9046]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK

  (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR. I'd like to welcome our guests in the gallery today because 
this week is the 25th anniversary of National Tourism Week.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Tourism Caucus, along with my co-
chair Jon Porter of Nevada and nearly 100 Members of Congress, we 
recognize the importance of the tourism industry to our national 
economy and to our local communities.
  It is the fastest growing industry in the world. From mom and pop 
restaurants to local unique shops to local State and national parks to 
this Capitol, which is a tourist attraction, there is so much to 
experience in this great country.
  The tourism industry also shows America's best face. Travelers 
experience warm, friendly and compassionate people that make up our 
country. This person-to-person contact between different cultures can 
help dissolve stereotypes and misconceptions. As Mark Twain once said, 
``Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.''
  So remember that while our economy grows, tourism plays a 
multibillion-dollar aspect of that, employing more than 7.5 million 
people. I hope you will join me in welcoming the representatives of the 
tourism industry that are here this week and celebrating National 
Tourism Week.
  The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.

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