Not widely publicized, a white paper by the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, titled ”Restoring America’s Travel Brand, A National Strategy to Compete for International Visitors, Recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce” is now coming to the forefront of the tourism industry by the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI). OTTI is issuing a “Request for Information (RFI) for assistance by interested government agencies, organizations, and industry businesses” to provide specific recommendations, comments, and concerns on the white paper’s recommendations.
The paper was released in September 2006, by the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB), the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), International Trade Administration (ITA), Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI).
Included in the white paper is the following observation: “new technology such as the Internet and mobile communication devices allows for enhanced access to information, greater mobility, and shared cultural experiences on a scale never seen before. Individuals, as well as travel agents, meeting planners and other intermediaries in all corners of the planet are increasingly aware of the expanding array of travel options, and the competition for their business is growing both more intense and more sophisticated.
Within this fast-growing market, consumer expectations, behaviors and booking patterns are also evolving at breakneck speed. Today’s world travelers not only originate from more countries, but also more money to spend, an increasing number of worthwhile destinations to choose from, better access to information, and they expect a higher level of service and ease of movement than ever before. In short, they expect nations to compete for their business.”
If you’re interested in reading the white paper please click on the following link: Restoring America’s Travel Brand, A National Strategy to Compete for International Visitors.
If you’re interested in responding to the RFI, please visit: OTTI RFI: The Federal Register Notice. [This will take you to the RFI web page.]
Posted in Blogroll, Brand, Marketing & Promotion, Tourism Marketing, Travel/Tourism
