By Tom McClimon
June 23, 2003

Stating that the travel and tourism industry is one of her city's core businesses, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Chair of the Conference's Task Force on Travel and Tourism, gave the mayors an update on the work of her committee. The Mayor spoke at the Mayors Business Council Breakfast session.

Reporting that Congress recently appropriated $50 million for an international destination marketing campaign, one the ten points contained in the Mayors 10 Point Action Plan, Mayor Franklin stated that her task force is working with the Department of Commerce on formulating how the money will be allocated. She also reported that the task force is working to get a mayor appointed to the newly formed U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Council.

Mayor Franklin also announced that the next meeting of the Travel and Tourism Task Force will be held October 9 in Miami Beach and encouraged all mayors to participate. The task force will again be joined by the Travel Business Roundtable and the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus.