Governor de Jongh Lauds House and Senate Action to Extend Benefits of Travel Promotion Bill to the Virgin Islands

Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. today thanked Congressional leaders for their actions on the House floor yesterday ensuring that the benefits of the new Travel Promotion Act will be extended to the Virgin Islands and other U.S. Territories. 

The Congressional action included a formal exchange of letters between the Senate sponsors of the bill, which is intended to promote international tourism to the United States, and the Chairman of the House Committee which has jurisdiction over the legislation. The letters make clear that the bill applies to the U.S. Territories. Delegate Donna Christensen and the Delegate from Guam also confirmed that the bill covered the Territories in a colloquy on the House floor. 

“I am pleased that the Congressional sponsors of this important legislation acted to ensure that the new corporation established by the bill to promote foreign travel to the United States will also benefit the Virgin Islands,” Governor de Jongh said. The new Corporation for Travel Promotion will be charged with developing and implementing advertising and promotion programs around the world designed to bring travelers to all parts of the United States, including the U.S. Territories. The Corporation will be funded by a $10 fee imposed on all visitors coming to the United States and administrative fees imposed on the travel industry. 

“Tourism is the lifeblood of the Virgin Islands economy,” Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty said. “This new federal program will greatly assist the V.I. industry in educating international travelers about our unique attractions and encouraging them to visit the Territory. I look forward to working with the new Corporation to ensure that the Territory receives its fair share of international advertising and promotion.” 

The bill, which was first passed by the Senate and approved by the House yesterday as an amendment to an unrelated bill, must now be voted again by the Senate before it is sent to the White House for signature. 

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