The Online Weekly Community Newspaper of Associations, CVBs, and Hotels
More than 100 Travel Industry Organizations Urge Immediate Disaster Relief
By Todd McElwee
“Recovery cannot wait.”
North of 100 destination leaders and small business operators across seven states affected by recent disasters shared that message in a letter Congressional leadership, urging lawmakers to pass immediate disaster relief.
“Travelers and the travel industry are critical drivers of our economy,” the letter states. “The severity of recent disaster events has resulted in steep losses in visitation to our destinations and our local small businesses who depend on the travel economy for their livelihood.”
The correspondence, dispatched to leaders of both chambers, appeals for Congress to provide emergency supplemental funding for the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program and Economic Adjustment Assistance program, ensuring the hardest hit communities, where travel has dropped to record lows in the aftermath of the storms, receive needed support.
“Too many destinations in too many states are currently waiting on Congress to provide desperately needed relief from disasters that took place months ago,” said Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association. “The holiday season is peak travel season and Main Street businesses are suffering. The time for Congress to act is now.”
To illustrate the depth of need, in just one recent example since the end of September, North Carolina’s Mountain region—home to 47,000 travel industry workers—stands to lose $2.1 billion in visitor spending this fall alone. The damage caused by Hurricane Helene is estimated to total up to $53 billion dollars.
The letter reads: “Our communities have been strong in the face of widespread devastation, but we cannot continue for long without federal support. We ask Congress to pass disaster relief legislation urgently to help our communities recover and avoid further economic damage.”
Find more information at ustravel.org
Want more content like this? Subscribe for full access to USAE.