Branding themselves the National Travel, Tourism and Recreation Coalition for Surface Transportation (NTTRC), five powerful trade associations today announced their intention to work together to serve…
Branding themselves the National Travel, Tourism and Recreation Coalition for Surface Transportation (NTTRC), five powerful trade associations today announced their intention to work together to serve the interests of the travel, tour and recreation industries in the next round of surface transportation legislation, also known as TEA-21 reauthorization.
The group of five, including the National Tour Association (NTA), American Bus Association (ABA), the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), the Western States Tourism Policy Council (WSTPC), and the National Alliance of Gateway Communities (NAGC), pledged to work together on key industry issues.
Their list of objectives includes: to establish tourism as a major player in highway related policy; to promote better accessibility, information and services for travelers; to support full funding for programs with direct tourism impact and to support as a national priority a Federal Surface Transportation Program that is adequately funded to provide travelers with safe and efficient transportation in a timely manner.
The group will continue to develop its agenda, working with industry and government partners such as the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, the American Automobile Association, the American Recreation Coalition and others. The coalition expects to welcome new members in the weeks ahead and as the TEA-21 reauthorization debate heats up in the 108th Congress. The current six-year legislation is set to expire in October of 2003.
According to NTTRC Director Aubrey King, The group`s members agree on the key overarching goal of supporting government transportation policies for stronger travel, tour and recreation industry.
They also each have industry-specific goals. Hank Phillips, president,National Tour Association, stressed the significance of the coalition and its goals. He said, No aspect of the federal structure is any more
relevant or important to tour operators than our highway system and related programs. NTA is pleased to be a founding member of the National Travel,Tourism and Recreation Coalition for Surface Transportation. Through the
coalition we will be able to greatly amplify the tour operator voice, as well as that of the overall travel industry, as we pursue passage of the best possible transportation reauthorization bill.
Peter J. Pantuso, president & CEO of the American Bus Association, said, The motorcoach industry is proud to be a charter member of NTTRC. Through the coalition we expect to build support for ABA`s current reauthorization
proposals and to recognize gains for our members in areas ranging from stronger intermodal linkages to increased bus parking capacity nationwide,to promoting bus ridership through the provision of timely service
information to travelers.
Linda Profaizer, president, National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds added that for her members, this is an important opportunity as well. Safe and efficient highways are absolutely critical to all of travel, tourism and recreation, and especially to RV parks and campgrounds. Our members obviously depend on RVers traveling on America`s roads and ARVC is proud to be a charter member of this new national coalition dedicated to ensuringthat the needs of our industry and the rest of travel, tourism and
recreation are fully considered throughout the 2003 reauthorization process.
All involved agree that providing, maintaining and improving our nation`s highways helps the nation conomically. Todd Davidson, chairman, Western
States Tourism Policy Council, explained, In the great American West, tourism and recreation are vital components of every state and local economy. And in the West, most tourists and recreationists arrive at their
destinations by traveling on roads. That is why the thirteen state tourism offices that comprise the Western States Tourism Policy Council have joined the National Travel, Tourism and Recreation Coalition for Surface
Transportation. It is absolutely essential to the future of tourism and recreation in the West and in the nation that we ensure that our highways remain the best in the world.
Bob Warren, chairman, National Alliance of Gateway Communities, echoed the sentiment and added, NAGC represents communities throughout the country that serve as gateways for millions of visitors from the U.S. and other
countries to America`s magnificent national parks, forests and other public lands. Expenditures by these visitors are mainstays of local gateway economies. Nearly all these visitors travel there in cars, RVs, motorcoaches
and other vehicles and thus good roads – safe, well-maintained roads – are vital to these visitors and to gateways. We enthusiastically welcome formation of this new focused national coalition to represent the interests
of all of travel, tourism and recreation.
The American Bus Association is the trade organization of the intercity busindustry with more than 1000 motorcoach owner and tour company members in the United States and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular
route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,300 members are travel and tourism organizations and suppliers of bus products and services who work in partnership with the North American motorcoach industry.
The National Alliance of Gateway Communities represents communities throughout the country that serve as gateways for millions of visitors from the U.S. and other countries to America`s magnificent national parks, forests and other public lands.
The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds represents the commercial RV park and campground industry throughout the United States.
The National Tour Association is an organization of nearly 4,000 tourism professionals representing the packaged travel industry, which had a direct economic impact of $166 billion worldwide in 2001. NTA provides unsurpassed business opportunities, knowledge and information to businesses involved in tour operator packaged travel. NTA also serves as a consumer advocate through membership requirements, education and a consumer protection plan.
The Western States Tourism Policy Council is comprised of the state tourism directors of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, whose mission is to foster and encourage a positive environment for travel and tourism by serving as a forum to identify, research, analyze, and advocate the travel and tourism related issues of public policy and opinion in the Western United States.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
