USTOA Launches Campaign to Encourage Travel

The U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA) launched a public relations campaign encouraging Americans to travel. “We’re telling people that, despite the recession, Americans have a unique opportunity to travel this year,” said USTOA President Bob Whitley.

The campaign, titled, “It’s America’s Turn to Travel,” is based on five key messages: The stronger U.S. dollar makes traveling to many other countries much more attractive; an abundance of good deals means that both domestic and foreign travel is more affordable; accessibility to travel abroad is greater than ever before due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires Americans reentering the U.S. to hold passport documentation, and holding a passport enables people to extend their travel horizons beyond our neighboring countries; tourism plays a vital role in economic recovery by stimulating both the domestic travel industry and the world travel market; and there is a renewed spirit of openness and enthusiasm for the U.S. around the globe, in the wake of President Obama’s successful meetings with world leaders. USTOA is asking Americans to capitalize on this by traveling and becoming individual ambassadors of good will.

USTOA posted a letter on its website from Whitley, saying “It’s America’s Turn to Travel.” The association has also developed and distributed editorials to newspapers and encouraged its members to submit these editorials to their local papers.