Expanding COVID-19
Resources for Tourism
Tourism is one of the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. Yet, no other economic sector can match tourism’s ability to quickly reengage businesses and employ workers. According to US Travel, major crisis usually requires 12-18 months to fully recover, every month the recovery is shorten translates into $22 billion in tourism spending and 300,000 travel industry jobs.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2.2 trillion response to the COVID-19 pandemic designed to speed relief across the American economy was approved by Congress and signed by the President in late March. Unfortunately, in the effort to quickly develop the aid package, many convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) were not included in eligibility for relief programs for small businesses and IRS designated non-profits. Earlier this week, legislation was approved by Congress to provide additional funding for CARES Act programs, but did not address eligibility expansion. Work has already begun on an additional stimulus package that could be approved in late May.

Recognizing the significant role tourism will play in helping communities to rebound, STS is focused on expanding eligibility for COVID-19 relief resources to tourism and ensuring state and local tourism offices receive funding for recovery promotion, as well as educating elected officials on the critical role of CVBs in rebuilding local economies.
Disaster Funding Strategies Call
STS has organized a conference call to discuss strategies for securing funds under other CARES Act programs, such as emergency aid to state and local government, Community Development Block Grants, and the Economic Development Administration funding for distressed cities to ensure that state and local tourism offices have the resources to rebound from this crisis. Topics will include advocacy strategies, messaging, state level targets, and what is needed from STS to make this campaign successful. 
 
The call will be via Zoom at 2:00 pm ET/1:00 PM CT on Monday, April 27.  
Role of Tourism in COVID-19 Recovery
On April 10, STS sent a letter signed by 178 of its members to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) asking for two actions to support CVBs in COVID-19 relief legislation. First, amend the CARES Act to ensure that the full spectrum of tourism offices, including 501(c) organizations and tourism-related quasi-governmental entities, are eligible under the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Second, provide relief directly to city, county, and state governments in the form of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to be used for the express purpose of tourism promotion. Many states and communities will use CDBG grants for this purpose but designating funds for tourism promotion will cut the red tape and allow CVBs to quickly deploy this funding to drive renewed visitation and visitor spending. Additional letters were also sent to the full congressional leadership.
Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus
On April 16, the Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus sent a letter to the bipartisan leadership of the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy calling for extending eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program and other CARES Act aid to CVBs in the next COVID-19 relief package. The letter notes that all CVBs are depending on travel taxes for funding and most are organized as 501(c)(6), 501(c)(4) or quasi-governmental organizations. Making these organizations eligible for CARES Act programs would provide a powerful to tool to generate the domestic spending needed to kickstart the economy.
 
The letter is signed by 85 Caucus members and is a good measure of whether a Representative understands the importance of tourism to their district. Review the letter to see if your Representative is standing up for tourism. 
Gateway and Rural Communities
As tourism, outdoor recreation, and local economies ground to a halt in response to the coronavirus crisis, The Conservation Fund presented a webinar on Seeking Ideas and Sharing Solutions for Gateway and Rural Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic on April 1. Featuring nationally recognized speakers, the webinar was designed to kick off a conversation on how communities are struggling with the implication of rapid change, efforts that can best sustain a sense of place, and the natural and cultural resources which make gateway communities unique destinations.
 
The Conservation Fund has posted a video of the webinar and the resources that were developed for the discussion. The materials can be found here .
Contact STS
If you have questions about tourism advocacy or STS’s policy priorities, the STS Advocacy Resource Center offers a wealth of information.