[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77725-77726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22098]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Restoring America's Travel Brand: A National Strategy to Compete 
for International Visitors; Request for Information

General Information

    Document Type: Special Notice.
    Solicitation Number: Reference-Number.
    Posted Date: December 27, 2006.
    Original Response Date: January 24, 2007.

Requesting Office Address

    Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries 
(OTTI), 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 1003, Washington, DC 
20230.

Description/Background

    In support of competitive goals established by the President of the 
United States, and in response to the white paper entitled Restoring 
America's Brand, A National Strategy to Compete for International 
Visitors, that was recently submitted to the Secretary of Commerce by 
the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB), the U.S. Department 
of Commerce (DOC), International Trade Administration (ITA), Office of 
Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI), is issuing this

[[Page 77726]]

Request for Information (RFI) for assistance by interested government 
agencies, organizations, and industry businesses. The information 
requested may include:
     An assessment of, or comment on, the white paper presented 
by the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which can be found at: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/TTAB/docs/2006_FINALTTAB_National_Tourism_Strategy.pdf.
     Respondents are highly encouraged to provide specific 
comments on the recommendations that are covered in the white paper, 
organized by the sections:
    [cir] making it easier for people to visit by balancing hospitality 
with security,
    [cir] asking people to visit the United States through a nationally 
coordinated marketing program, and
    [cir] demonstrating the value of travel and tourism to the nation's 
economy.
     In addition, respondents are encouraged to provide 
comments/observations related to other areas of concern or issues that 
are not addressed in the white paper, such as:
    [cir] sustainable tourism development,
    [cir] medical tourism,
    [cir] cultural heritage tourism development,
    [cir] technical training/tours for business-to-business 
development,
    [cir] education exchanges or attendance,
    [cir] public-private partnerships, or
    [cir] infrastructure challenges, to name a few.
    Comments will serve in the development of policies and programs to 
be implemented by the federal government concerning the tourism sector.
    The Government encourages both rigorous and creative solutions in 
response to this RFI.

How to Respond

    The Department of Commerce is asking respondents to provide written 
input concerning any and all recommendations contained within the white 
paper submitted by the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and other 
aspects of travel and tourism that may not be addressed in the white 
paper.
    All responses should be e-mailed to either of the following members 
of the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries: 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    Please use reference: 2006 RFI Restoring America's Travel Brand, A 
National Strategy to Compete for International Visitors in the subject 
line of all correspondence. Please submit responses by January 19, 
2007.
    Input provided through this RFI may be representative of the 
collective opinion from a membership-wide survey of a travel and 
tourism industry trade association, or it can be submitted as the 
opinion of a single person. Any opinions or information received that 
are not specific to travel and tourism related issues will not be 
considered.
    This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and 
does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in 
response to this RFI that is marked ``Proprietary'' will be handled 
accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. In accordance 
with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice will not be considered an 
offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding 
contract. Interested parties are solely responsible for all expenses 
associated with responding to this RFI.
    Additional information on the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and 
the white paper submission may also be found at the Office of Travel & 
Tourism Industries Web site at: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov.

Points of Contact

    Julie Heizer, Deputy Director, Industry Relations, Phone 
202.482.4904, Fax 202.482.2887, E-mail [email protected]
    Cynthia Warshaw, International Trade Specialist, Phone 
202.482.4601, Fax 202.482.2887, E-mail [email protected].

Place of Performance

    Address: Washington, DC.
    Postal Code: 20230.
    Country: United States.
    You will find the RFI on the OTTI Web site at: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/.

    Dated: December 20, 2006.
Helen N. Marano,
Director, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries.
[FR Doc. E6-22098 Filed 12-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P