In a letter
delivered today, the U.S.
Travel Association collectively called upon Congressional leaders to pass a
disaster relief bill as soon as it reconvenes to aid the regions devastated by
Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The damage from these massively destructive storms,
it said, is estimated to total more than $100 billion, which has left local
economies struggling and caused significant repercussions on travel, visitor
spending, hotel bookings, tax revenues and jobs.
The letter,
addressed to Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader
Schumer, and Minority Leader McConnell, requests over $35 billion in funding
for the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program.
Additionally, it advocates for setting aside 25 percent of Economic Development
Administration (EDA) Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) funds specifically
for travel industry recovery in the impacted states.
In the letter,
U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman wrote, “In states hit
by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the travel industry accounts for more than 2
million jobs, $282 billion in travel spending and more than $20 billion in
state and local tax receipts. Past hurricanes demonstrate that it takes an
average of 6-12 months before travel spending returns to baseline levels.... North
Carolina’s Mountain region, home to 47,000 travel industry workers, stands to
lose $2.1 billion in visitor spending this fall alone.
“Preliminary
surveys show that roughly 15 percent of all travelers are unlikely to visit the
state in the next year because of Hurricane Helene damage,” the letter
continued. “For example, visitation to Asheville/Buncombe County, NC, has
dropped to record lows after Hurricane Helene destroyed highways, roads and
water utilities. Without visitors, small travel businesses are unable to meet
payroll and basic operating expenses. When processed expeditiously, CDBG-DR
grants will revive travel to communities by providing critical resources to
small businesses and rebuilding water and transportation infrastructure.”
The letter also
requested that 25 percent of the EAA disaster relief funds be allocated
specifically for the travel industry’s recovery in areas affected by Helene and
Milton. Pointing to the success of the
American Rescue Plan, which directed a quarter of EDA funds to communities
impacted by COVID-19-related job losses in the travel sector, Freeman posited
that such grants can serve as catalysts for additional state, local and private
investments.
Given the urgent
need for support, the U.S. Travel Association is pressing Congress to act
swiftly to prevent further economic damage and ensure a quicker recovery for
communities dependent on tourism. The organization said that it stands ready to
work with legislators in its efforts to secure this critical funding and help
affected areas rebuild.
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