[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 38437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18730]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration


Survey of International Air Travelers (In-Flight Survey)

Action: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 23, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Phone 
number: (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to: Ron Erdmann, ITA's Tourism Industries, Room 1860, 1400 
Constitution Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 482-4554, and 
fax: (202) 482-2887.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The International Trade Administration, Tourism Industries office's 
``Survey of International Air Travelers'' is the only source for 
estimating international travel and passenger fare exports and imports 
for this country. This program also supports the U.S. Department of 
Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis mandate to collect and report 
this type of information which is used to calculate GDP for the United 
States. This project also serves as the core data source for Tourism 
Industries. Numerous reports and analyses are developed to assist 
businesses in increasing U.S. exports in international travel. An 
economic impact of international travel on state economies, visitation 
estimates, traveler profiles, presentations and reports are generated 
by Tourism Industries to help the federal government agencies and the 
travel industry better understand the international market. It is also 
a service that the U.S. Department of Commerce provides to travel 
industry businesses seeking to increase international travel and 
passenger fare exports for the country. It provides the only comparable 
estimates of non-resident visitation to the states and cities within 
the U.S., as well as U.S. resident travel abroad. Traveler 
characteristics data are also collected to help travel related 
businesses better understand the international travelers to and from 
the U.S. so they can developed targeted marketing and other planning 
related materials.

II. Method of Collection

    The collection is on U.S. and foreign flag airlines who voluntarily 
agree to allow us to survey their departing flights from the U.S. 
Additional surveys are also collected at U.S. departure airports and 
selected U.S. sites as cooperation is obtained from the travel 
industry. The survey is printed in several languages.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0605-0007 (new number to be assigned since this survey, 
previously conducted by the United States Travel and Tourism 
Administration, will now be conducted by ITA.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    Type of Review: Renewal-Regular submission.
    Affected Public: International travelers departing the United 
States 18 years or older which includes U.S. and non-U.S. residents.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 165,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24,840 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: This is a $2 million research program. 
The government only funds $700,00 of this program. The remaining funds 
are obtained from inkind contributions of the airlines, airports and 
other travel industry partners as well as the sale of this data to the 
public. Respondents will not need to purchase equipment or materials to 
respond to this collection. There are no real costs to the respondents 
other than their time. On average, we are estimating that each 
respondent's time is worth about $11.00.

IV. Requested for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 17, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-18730 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-DR-U