January 19, 2012

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement after President Obama announced new initiatives to significantly increase travel and tourism in the United States:

“President Obama’s announcement today is a shot in the arm for Nevada’s largest industry: tourism. This incredibly important initiative for Nevada will take the necessary steps to increase travel and tourism in the United States. Nevada is home to some of the world’s premier travel destinations. From Lake Tahoe to the Las Vegas Strip, tourists from around the world enjoy our state’s hospitality. As our economy continues to recover, the President’s plan to boost tourism will create thousands of new jobs in Nevada’s leading industry.

“Building upon the success of the Travel Promotion Act, which I helped pass and President Obama signed into law in 2010, this task force will develop a new national strategy to encourage tourists to visit the United States. In particular, I am pleased that the Administration will focus on growing our nation’s share of foreign travelers.

In 2010, more than 18 percent of all visitors to Las Vegas were from foreign countries and they helped support more than 96,000 jobs. Increasing foreign travel will create jobs throughout Nevada and our nation because international visitors spend more, on average, than their domestic counterparts.” 

###