22 U.S.C. § 2122
Powers and duties of Secretary of Commerce
In order to carry out the national tourism policy established in section 2121(b) of this title and by the United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996, the Secretary of Commerce (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the “Secretary”) shall develop and implement a comprehensive plan to perform critical tourism functions which, in the determination of the Secretary, are not being carried out by the United States National Tourism Organization or other private sector entities or State governments. Such plan may include programs to—
(1)
collect and publish comprehensive international travel and tourism statistics and other marketing information;
(2)
design, implement, and publish international travel and tourism forecasting models;
(3)
facilitate the reduction or elimination of barriers to international travel and tourism; and
(4)
work with the United States National Tourism Organization, the Tourism Policy Council, State tourism agencies, and Federal agencies in—
(A)
coordinating the Federal implementation of a national travel and tourism policy;
(B)
representing the United States’ international travel and tourism interests to foreign governments; and
(C)
maintaining United States participation in international travel and tourism trade shows and fairs until such activities can be transferred to such Organization and other private sector entities.
The Secretary of Commerce shall seek to increase the reporting frequency of the data provided by Statistics Canada and the Bank of Mexico on international travel trade between the United States and both Canada and Mexico. The Secretary shall improve the quarterly statistical report on United States international travel receipts and payments published in the Bureau of Economic Analysis document known as ‘The Survey of Current Services’ and heighten its visibility.”
( Pub. L. 87–63, title II, § 201 , formerly § 2, June 29, 1961 , 75 Stat. 129 ; Pub. L. 93–623, § 6 , Jan. 3, 1975 , 88 Stat. 2105 ; renumbered and amended Pub. L. 97–63, § 3(b) , (e)(1), Oct. 16, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1012 , 1013; Pub. L. 102–372, § 6(a) , Sept. 30, 1992 , 106 Stat. 1175 ; Pub. L. 104–288, § 10 , Oct. 11, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3407 .)