IITA has been advocating for expanding eligibility for the shuttered venue operator grants (SVOG) as proposed by the Securing Access for Venue Equity (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2120).
The International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) calls on Congress to provide relief funding for inbound tour operators that were forced into a federally-mandated shutdown since March 2020. The international inbound travel sector has been at a standstill, leaving inbound operators with no opportunity to do business for the last 14 months.
IITA has been advocating for expanding eligibility for the shuttered venue operator grants (SVOG) as proposed by the Securing Access for Venue Equity (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2120). The SAVE Act, sponsored by Representatives Mark Amodei of Nevada, Charlie Crist of Florida, Dina Titus of Nevada, and Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, provides more resources for SVOGs and specifically make it possible for companies like inbound tour operators to be eligible.
The program provides grants for live venue operators and promoters and other businesses that suffered extreme loss of gross revenue between April 2020 through December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, IITA, together with NYC & Company and 40 inbound tour operators, sent letters to Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Ranking Member Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) of the House Committee on Small Business asking for support to extend the SOVG program to tour operators, which would be of significant help to inbound tour companies, particularly as calls for re-opening the USA for inbound travel are increasing.
"We believe it’s important to raise our collective voices about the ongoing needs of the inbound travel sector," said IITA CEO Lisa Simon. "Whether it's the SOVG program or other relief and stimulus legislation, inbound operators need financial support to keep the lights on as we work our way back to normal inbound travel patterns."
IITA will continue to raise awareness of the impact the pandemic has had on international visitation.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
