Travel and Tourism: DOT Should Improve Strategic Planning and Data Collection
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in 2019—prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—the U.S. travel and tourism industry generated $2 trillion in economic output, supporting 9.9 million American jobs. While many agencies share responsibilities for supporting travel and tourism, in recent years, Congress has increased the Department of Transportation's (DOT’s) responsibilities in this area. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a provision for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review DOT’s support for travel and tourism. This report examines (1) the extent to which DOT’s grant programs support travel and tourism; and (2) the challenges DOT faces in supporting travel and tourism, and how DOT might address these challenges. GAO reviewed pertinent statutes as well as DOT strategic planning and grant documentation. In addition, GAO interviewed DOT officials, representatives of 14 industry groups, and officials from state DOTs and tourism boards in eight selected states. GAO selected these states to obtain diversity in geographic region and in the share of travel and tourism in states' economies. GAO is making two recommendations to DOT: (1) develop goals related to travel and tourism and incorporate them into its National Travel & Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan, and (2) develop a plan to identify and obtain additional data on travel and tourism needed to revise and implement the Plan. DOT concurred with the recommendations.
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- Summary URL:
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Corporate Authors:
U.S. Government Accountability Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20548 - Publication Date: 2023-5-24
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 42p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Data collection; Grant aid; Recommendations; Strategic planning; Tourism
- Identifier Terms: U.S. Department of Transportation
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General);
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01883517
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: GAO-23-105967
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: May 25 2023 4:57PM