The U.S. Travel Association praised Reps. William Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) for introducing the “Travel Promotion Act of 2009,” legislation that could create thousands of new jobs and boost economic growth nationwide by attracting millions of new international travelers to the United States.

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a similar measure in the 110th Congress, and the bill’s introduction in the House comes as the Senate debates companion legislation.

The “Travel Promotion Act” establishes a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate U.S. security and entry policies.

The legislation specifies that travel promotion would be paid for by private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers from countries that do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States. Nearly every developed nation in the world charges entry and exit fees and spends millions of dollars to attract visitors. Overseas visitors spend an average of $4,500 per person, per trip in the United States.

However, since 9/11 international travelers have found ever-changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage to be a deterrent to visiting the United States. Oxford Economics estimates that a well-executed promotion program, as outlined in the “Travel Promotion Act,” would attract 1.6 million new international visitors annually, create $4 billion in new spending and $321 million in new federal tax revenue.