national travel & tourism strategy

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National Travel & Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan FY 2020-2024

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U.S. 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy

Tetsuhiro Nakagawa & Hirokazu Nishikawa

In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy, the stated goal of which is to increase the number of inbound tourists from the pre-pandemic 79 million in 2019, to 90 million by 2027. Read more to learn about America's tourism promotion system and the travel and tourism-related support measures taken as countermeasures against COVID-19.

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U.S. Dept of Commerce Releases 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy

The 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy was released on June 6, 2022, by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo on behalf of the Tourism Policy Council (TPC). The new strategy focuses the full efforts of the federal government to promote the United States as a premier destination grounded in the breadth and diversity of our communities, and to foster a sector that drives economic growth, creates good jobs, and bolsters conservation and sustainability. Drawing on engagement and capabilities from across the federal government, the strategy aims to support broad-based economic growth in travel and tourism across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia.

The federal government will work to implement the strategy under the leadership of the TPC and in partnership with the private sector, aiming toward an ambitious  five-year goal  of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming  90 million international visitors, who we estimate will spend $279 billion, annually by 2027.

The new National Travel and Tourism Strategy supports growth and competitiveness for an industry that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, generated $1.9 trillion in economic output and supported 9.5 million American jobs. Also, in 2019, nearly 80 million international travelers visited the United States and contributed nearly $240 billion to the U.S. economy, making the United States the global leader in revenue from international travel and tourism. As the top services export for the United States that year, travel and tourism generated a $53.4 billion trade surplus and supported 1 million jobs in the United States.

The strategy follows a four-point approach:

• Promoting the United States as a Travel Destination Goal : Leverage existing programs and assets to promote the United States to international visitors and broaden marketing efforts to encourage visitation to underserved communities.
• Facilitating Travel to and Within the United States Goal : Reduce barriers to trade in travel services and make it safer and more efficient for visitors to enter and travel within the United States.
• Ensuring Diverse, Inclusive, and Accessible Tourism Experiences Goal : Extend the benefits of travel and tourism by supporting the development of diverse tourism products, focusing on under-served communities and populations. Address the financial and workplace needs of travel and tourism businesses, supporting destination communities as they grow their tourism economies. Deliver world-class experiences and customer service at federal lands and waters that showcase the nation’s assets while protecting them for future generations.
• Fostering Resilient and Sustainable Travel and Tourism Goal : Reduce travel and tourism’s contributions to climate change and build a travel and tourism sector that is resilient to natural disasters, public health threats, and the impacts of climate change. Build a sustainable sector that integrates protecting natural resources, supporting the tourism economy, and ensuring equitable development.

Travel and Tourism Fast Facts

• The travel and tourism industry supported 9.5 million American jobs through $1.9 trillion of economic activity in 2019. In fact, 1 in every 20 jobs in the United States was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. These jobs can be found in industries like lodging, food services, arts, entertainment, recreation, transportation, and education.
• Travel and tourism was the top services export for the United States in 2019, generating a $53.4 billion trade surplus.
• The travel and tourism industry was one of the U.S. business sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and travel restrictions, with travel exports decreasing nearly 65% from 2019 to 2020. 
• The decline in travel and tourism contributed heavily to unemployment; leisure and hospitality lost 8.2 million jobs between February and April 2020 alone, accounting for 37% of the decline in overall nonfarm employment during that time. 
• By 2021, the rollout of vaccines and lifting of international and domestic restrictions allowed travel and tourism to begin its recovery. International arrivals to the United States grew to 22.1 million in 2021, up from 19.2 million in 2020. Spending by international visitors also grew, reaching $81.0 billion, or 34 percent of 2019’s total.

More about the Tourism Policy Council and the 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy -  Created by Congress and chaired by Secretary Raimondo, the  Tourism Policy Council  (TPC) is the interagency council charged with coordinating national policies and programs relating to travel and tourism. At the direction of Secretary Raimondo, the TPC created a new five-year strategy to focus U.S. government efforts in support of the travel and tourism sector which has been deeply and disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source:  U.S. Travel Association 

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New National Strategy to Reenergize U.S. Travel and Tourism Announced

The  Tourism Policy Council , a federal interagency council created by Congress, was charged by Secretary Raimondo with creating the strategy to focus U.S. government efforts in support of the travel and tourism sector which has been deeply and disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy follows a four-point approach to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint, create safe and secure checkpoints, and bolster travel and tourism in underserved and underrepresented communities across the country.

Specifically, the strategy aims to:

• promote the United States as a premier travel destination, including broadening marketing efforts to encourage visitation to underserved and underrepresented communities;
• facilitate safe and efficient travel to and within the United States and its territories;
• ensure diverse and accessible tourism experiences with a focus on showcasing the nation’s federal lands and waters while also protecting them for future generations;
• foster resilient and sustainable travel and tourism with goals to reduce the sectors’ contributions to climate change while rebuilding sectors that protect natural resources, support the tourism economy and ensure equitable development.

Read  the strategy  and  the fact sheet .

“Across all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, communities are safely welcoming back visitors. From the crown jewels of our national parks and forests, to the historic and diverse sites that tell the story of our people and culture, the United States offers destinations for international travelers like no other,” said Secretary Raimondo. “The impact of COVID-19 has taken a toll on our national and local economies, but it also has presented us with a unique opportunity to mold a more inclusive, equitable, sustainable and resilient travel and tourism industry than ever before. Our new strategy leverages the best of what the U.S. public and private sectors offer, which will promote jobs, recover lost revenues, and inspire unforgettable experiences.”

The travel and tourism sector has historically been a critical force in economic growth and employment in the United States. When non-U.S. residents purchase goods and services while in the United States, it counts as export income for the U.S. economy.

In 2020, the Department’s  National Travel and Tourism Office  reported that the decline in travel and tourism to and within the United States accounted for 56% of the decline in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), and travel exports dropped 65% in 2020 when compared to 2019, or pre-pandemic levels.

However, throughout 2021, as the Biden-Harris Administration implemented a robust vaccine rollout and effective travel policies centered around health and safety, along with lifting travel restrictions when it was safe to do so, monthly overseas arrivals to the United States increased from roughly 775,000 in October 2021 to more than 2 million in April 2022. As a result, international travel to the United States has generated a trade surplus in each of the past five months indicating a positive trend toward recovery even as international travel remains below pre-pandemic levels.

About the National Travel and Tourism Office

The National Travel and Tourism Office, housed within the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, and led by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis, is the federal government’s official source for U.S. travel and tourism statistics. For more information on the National Travel and Tourism Office statistics and research programs, including interactive data monitors, factsheets, and comprehensive downloads, please visit:   https://www.trade.gov/national-travel-and-tourism-office .

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DCT Abu Dhabi plans $10bn infrastructure investment as part of tourism strategy

Abu Dhabi's tourism body is planning to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure as part of its new major tourism strategy, the chairman of the emirate's Department of Culture and Tourism has said.

The emirate also aims to boost the number of hotel rooms to 52,000, from the current 34,000, to support the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030, Mohamed Al Mubarak told The National .

The UAE capital recently launched the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030, announced by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi , which aims to boost the sector's contribution to gross domestic product.

It comprises 26 initiatives across four areas – offering and city activation, which is geared towards enhancing visitor experience; promotion and marketing; infrastructure and mobility; and visa, licensing and regulation.

DCT Abu Dhabi's major partners include the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the Department of Municipalities and Transport and Abu Dhabi Airports Company, as well as other government and private entities.

The plan aims to add Dh90 billion ($24.5 billion) to the country's GDP annually by 2030, about 84 per cent higher from Dh49 billion in 2023, and attract 39.3 million annual visitors to Abu Dhabi, a 7 per cent year-on-year growth and from an estimated 24 million last year, the department said.

The strategy also calls for the creation of 178,000 new jobs in the emirate, bringing the total number of jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors to about 366,000 by the start of the next decade, it said.

“Between events and marketing spend, we're going to be hovering over $1 billion. That's outside, of course, of the infrastructure,” Mr Al Mubarak said on Tuesday.

“[When it comes to] infrastructure, in terms of museums, theme parks and hospitality, [with] the private sector playing a significant role, we are hovering at over $10 billion of investment from now to 2030,” he said.

Major attractions, projects coming up

Among the attractions coming to Abu Dhabi are the Guggenheim Museum, the expansion of Warner Bros World and the development of Harry Potter World within it, the Saadiyat Cultural District, Hudayriyat Island for sports and adventure, and the enhancement of Yas Waterworld, Mr Al Mubarak said.

In addition, the development of a zoo and other tourism venues is ongoing in Al Ain, as well as new hotel chains, including Nammos and Mondrian, among others.

More “new interesting projects” will be revealed “in the near future, which will enhance our entertainment product on Saadiyat Island”, he added.

In addition, the emirate is also aiming to add more four and five-star beach destination hotels, as well as promote more holiday homes, particularly expanding Airbnb offerings, the chairman said.

These are aimed at targeting an international overnight visitor count of 7.2 million by 2030, about 90 per cent higher than the estimated 3.8 million in 2023, DCT Abu Dhabi said.

“These will basically bring world-class hospitality experiences to the emirate, many of them for the first time in the region,” Mr Al Mubarak said.

DCT Abu Dhabi will also expand its tourism source markets to 26, from the current 11, with more roadshows being planned across Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, he said.

Abu Dhabi is expanding efforts to diversify its non-oil economy and attract investment across sectors including aviation, technology, and tourism and hospitality.

Abu Dhabi’s economy grew 3.1 per cent annually to Dh1.14 trillion in 2023, hitting its highest level in a decade, according to Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi data reported on Monday.

“With the growth of tourism GDP … this creates a significant amount of opportunities we're looking to bring in from now until 2030,” Mr Al Mubarak said.

Government initiatives have also played a role in supporting the tourism sector, such as the unified GCC tourist visa approved in November last year .

The system, which is expected to come into effect between 2024 to 2025 across the six-nation bloc, is expected to streamline travel logistics and underpins the “continuous communication and co-ordination”.

In addition, the UAE government is contemplating a proposal to introduce new commercial licence regulations, including a 10-year golden licence and a five-year silver licence, to boost business activities in the Emirates.

The GCC “is really going to enhance and market itself in ways it has never done. So there's massive opportunities there”, Mr Al Mubarak said.

“This is creating massive new jobs in this industry. We're looking to focus on cultural jobs, to focus on the creative industries. So those in itself are major opportunities for businesses to come set up here.”

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world's biggest economy, is also embarking on a major tourism push – and DCT Abu Dhabi is viewing this as “heavily complementary” to the UAE and wider GCC's ambitions to promote the region as a global tourist hub.

“This is something that is upon us. So we will take full of advantage of this complementary partnership,” Mr Al Mubarak said, noting the tourism boost GCC states enjoyed as a result of the ripple effects of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

The Israel-Gaza war, meanwhile, has affected tourists coming from Palestine and Israel, but overall Abu Dhabi's tourism sector has been “holding strong”, Mr Al Mubarak said.

“We have continuously showcased and we have proven not only to be a safe destination when conflict is around us, but to be a safe destination regardless of any time of the year.”

In addition, DCT Abu Dhabi is planning to launch a “super app” that will link all tourism services platforms, Mr Al Mubarak said.

The mobile application, which has been in development for more than a year, is expected to be rolled out in a year's time, he said.

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U.S. Department of Commerce

Was this page helpful, celebrate the power of travel during national travel and tourism week 2021.

National Travel and Tourism Week 2021 Graphic

By  U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo  Travel has the power to connect people with places and expose us to new cultures and ways of life. For well over a year, Americans made difficult decisions to forgo personal travel and business trips to protect ourselves, our families, friends, and communities from the COVID-19 pandemic. As we mark National Travel and Tourism Week (May 2--8, 2021), I am hopeful for the future as travelers who are fully vaccinated can begin to travel safely.  

The U.S. travel and tourism industry has been disproportionately affected by the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with small businesses that rely on new and returning visitors hit particularly hard. In 2020 employment in the travel-dependent leisure and hospitality sector declined by 3.3 million, accounting for more than a third (37%) of the overall decline in non-farm employment last year. At the same time, international visitation to the United States declined 76%.

In response to a deflated travel and tourism sector and its immense impact on our economy and people, the U.S. government and President Biden took swift and decisive action.  

President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will provide significant aid to communities that have suffered economic injury related to these declines. Specifically, $750 million has been allotted to the  Economic Development Administration  (EDA) for these states and communities hit hardest in the travel, tourism, or outdoor recreation sectors. Accordingly, I met with the  U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board  and heard its recommendations on initiatives to support leisure and business travel, including infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects that would be most impactful for these communities as they respond and recover from COVID-19.  

In addition, the International Trade Administration’s  National Travel and Tourism Office  (NTTO) has developed several new tools for the industry’s use, principal among them the  COVID-19 Travel Industry Monitor . The Monitor includes key indicators from the Small Business Pulse Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, and snapshot data in six key areas:  COVID-19, International Visitation, Trade in Travel, Key Economic Indicators, Travel Indicators, and Sentiment. More information on this useful tool can be found  here .  

We must reignite the travel and tourism industry, but we must do so safely and inclusively, working to provide equitable relief to Americans in every part of the country. National Travel and Tourism Week 2021 offers us a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come in the face of a global crisis and a chance to celebrate the power of travel to fill our souls and fuel our nation’s economic prosperity. Restoring Americans’ spirits and recovering our nation’s economy will not be possible without this important industry.  

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