By Tom McClimon
April 29, 2002

Ways cities can promote travel and tourism was a major focus of discussion at the international mayors meeting. The issue as addressed in New York at both a plenary session and a working session among the mayors.

Chairman of Travel Business Roundtable Addresses Mayors

Mr. Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels and Chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable called upon the mayors to work towards promoting the importance of travel and tourism to their communities. "The tourism industry and the important role that we play in our nation's economy has never received as much notoriety as we have over the last several months. We must seize upon this to ensure that we not only recover, but that we emerge stronger, more united and more vibrant than we were before," stated Tisch in his address to the mayors.

He cited the importance of the travel and tourism industry to the nation's economy. The travel and tourism industry is the second largest employer by sector employing more than 18 million people, has an annual payroll of $159 billion, and generated nearly $100 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues according to Tisch. Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, the travel and tourism industry went into a slump, but a recovery is expected by 2003. Most of the immediate recovery is occurring in dependent less on the tourism industry are making the fastest recovery. Mr. Tisch encouraged the mayors to work with the travel and tourism industry to establish a Presidential Advisory Council on Travel and Tourism; and to establish a public and private partnership to promote the United States as an international travel destination.

Mayors Panel on Travel and Tourism

A number of ways that mayors and an International Conference of Mayors can assist cities on travel and tourism were put forth by mayors participating in a panel discussion on the importance of the travel and tourism industry. Mayor Ettore Severi of Monecatini, Italy, suggested to the group that an international conference of mayors should: 1) create a Document on the Rights of Tourists which would outline the requirements each city should provide tourists, 2) establish tourists standards relating to things cities should have in place (i.e. airports, rails, safety measures) to assist tourists; and 3) establish a data base of local tourist projects that could be shared with local governments from around the world.

Mayors also shared ideas on public awareness, education, and security relating to travel and tourism. Mayor Solomon Darko of Accra, Ghana, discussed how his city has undertaken a massive public education and assistance campaign on travel and tourism to help educate his city's residents on ways to identify terrorists and terrorists' threats. "We need to educate our residents on what terrorism means and how to identify it" stated Mayor Darko "so that terrorism does not impact on travel and tourism". Conference of Mayors Past President Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles discussed how his city was educating residents about the new airport security measures so that it would help expedite the procedures when they travel. Representatives from the Mayor's office from Rio de Janeiro, Military Advisor Marcos Amaro and Special Advisor Leandro Moreira, talked about ways their city was conducting a public rConference Past President Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb discussed the importance of travel and tourism to his community. "Denver is dependent on air travel as we have no water ports. Our airport is the port to our city." stated Mayor Webb. "As we mayors travel, we learn a lot from each other and by seeing how other cities deal with their problems." stated Mayor Webb in encouraging his fellow mayors to continue to travel and promote travel and tourism.

Conference Past President Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb discussed the importance of travel and tourism to his community. "Denver is dependent on air travel as we have no water ports. Our airport is the port to our city." stated Mayor Webb. "As we mayors travel, we learn a lot from each other and by seeing how other cities deal with their problems." stated Mayor Webb in encouraging his fellow mayors to continue to travel and promote travel and tourism.