The Tourism Policy Council (TPC) is chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and charged with coordinating national policies and programs relating to international travel and tourism that involve federal agencies. NTTO serves as the TPC Secretariat. Members of the TPC include the U.S. Departments of State, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, and Transportation, and the Office of Management and Budget, as well as additional agencies and departments as deemed appropriate. These have included the Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Small Business Administration, and White House Executive Office personnel from the National Economic Council and National Security Council.
The United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) is a federal advisory committee governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Visit America Act of 2023. It advises the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, offers counsel on current and emerging issues, and provides a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related problems.
The TTAB is comprised of up to 32 members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, representing companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry from a broad range of products and services, company sizes, and geographic locations. The TTAB was originally chartered in 2003 and has been re-chartered 10 times, most recently in 2021. As a result of the Visit America Act of 2023, the TTAB is now a congressionally mandated federal advisory committee.
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The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 established the nonprofit Corporation for Travel Promotion, doing business as Brand USA, which began operations in May 2011 as the nation’s first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and communicate U.S. visa and entry policies. As the destination marketing organization for the United States, Brand USA plays a critical role in increasing international visitation and spending, supporting economic development and job creation in communities across the country. Accordingly, Brand USA is a key partner for the U.S. Government on travel and tourism promotion activities, including:
- Implementing the National Travel and Tourism Strategy;
- Working with ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service teams at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world on travel and tourism promotion programs;
- Supporting unique initiatives in key markets to expand opportunities for U.S. travel and tourism stakeholders, such as the 2024 U.S.-Japan Tourism Year; public-private engagement under the U.S.-India Commercial Dialogue’s Travel and Tourism Working Group; efforts to support increased two-way travel and tourism with China; and more.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is required by law to approve Brand USA’s annual objectives, in consultation with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State. Brand USA is governed by an 11-member board of directors, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce after consultation with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State. Brand USA must also provide the Secretary of Commerce its marketing plan and budget each fiscal year and submit an annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to Congress. NTTO manages the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Brand USA-related responsibilities.
Visit the Brand USA website
NTTO represents U.S. travel and tourism priorities in important international intergovernmental travel and tourism organizations. Specifically, NTTO serves as the U.S. government lead to the following:
