Late last year, Congress made the decision to create the position of assistant secretary of travel and tourism within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the first senior government official overseeing tourism strategy.
It was a win for the travel industry, which has for years lobbied for a high-level post for tourism. But as is often the case in Washington, its advocacy work isn't over yet: The position has yet to be funded or filled.
"I think a lot of people presume that because the position was established that the funding went with it," said Adam Burke, CEO of Los Angeles Tourism. "Right now, it's been approved, but it doesn't exist. It was an unfunded mandate."
Burke was part of the California delegation that went to Washington last month as part of the U.S. Travel Association's annual Destination Capitol Hill event. The 250 travel sector leaders met with members of Congress to relay their main legislative priorities.
Chief among them was that the fiscal year 2024 appropriations for the Commerce Department set aside $3.5 million to fund the office for the assistant secretary for travel and tourism.
Eben Peck, executive vice president of advocacy for ASTA, said that while the Biden administration has requested funding for the office, the final details of the budget won't be known until the end of the year.
In the meantime, the government could move forward: The assistant secretary of commerce for travel and tourism will be appointed by Biden, and that person can be nominated before funding for the position is established.
Both U.S. Travel and ASTA, two groups that lobbied hard to get the position created, say members of the travel industry should continue to keep the position at the forefront of their advocacy efforts.
While neither group cites any specific pushback, it is no secret that Washington is buzzing with talk about budget cuts amid soaring U.S. debt.
Both U.S. Travel and ASTA have maintained that such a position will help grow the economy by leading federal government efforts to boost domestic and international travel. The position would "make the United States more competitive for global travelers," who tend to stay longer and outspend domestic ones, said Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy for U.S. Travel.
"We'll maintain our strong advocacy and have every reason to believe it's headed in the right direction," Emerson Barnes said of the position.
Once in place, the assistant secretary would report directly to the undersecretary for international trade at the Department of Commerce.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), second from left, receives the Travel Champion award from U.S. Travel Association staff and members of the Nevada delegation. Photo Credit: U.S. Travel Association
The U.S. is the only G-20 country without a federal agency or cabinet-level official in charge of tourism, despite the fact that tourism spending is higher in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world.
Los Angeles Tourism's Burke called the creation of the position "a massive step forward" and said Congress needs to "fund that office so we can get up and running."
He saw firsthand what the lack of a senior government official representing travel policy looks like. Last summer, the Summit of the Americas, which brings together leaders from the countries of the Western Hemisphere, was held in Los Angeles. Several tourism ministers were part of the delegations attending the event, and they had no U.S. equivalent to meet with, Burke said.
Quite a few travel executives said they are encouraged that the position had bipartisan support when it passed as part of the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act.
Among its supporters were Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), a sponsor of the bill, and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a co-sponsor. Each recently received the U.S. Travel Association's 2023 Travel Champion award.