National Tourism Policy Act

(Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1532)

National Tourism Policy Act - =Title I: National Tourism Policy= - Declares that the purpose of this title is to establish a cooperative effort between the Federal Government, State and local governments, and other concerned public and private organizations to implement a national tourism policy.

=Title II: United States Travel and Tourism Administration= - Establishes, as an independent entity in the executive branch, the United States Travel and Tourism Administration.

Sets forth the terms of office, competition, powers, and duties of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator of the United States Travel and Tourism Administration.

Authorizes the Administration to assist Congress and the Federal agencies having policy and programmatic responsibilities affecting tourism.

Directs the Administrator, by April 15, 1982, to submit a detailed tourism development plan to the appropriate Congressional committees.

Directs that, upon the request of the Administrator, each Federal agency shall: (1) make its services, personnel, and facilities available, to the maximum extent practicable, to assist the Administration in the performance of its functions; and (2) furnish the Administration, subject to the provisions of applicable law, such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics as the Administration may request.

Prohibits the Administration from providing or arranging for transportation or accommodations for persons traveling between other countries and the United States, or between points within the United States, in competition with businesses engaged in providing or arranging for such transportation or accommodations.

Directs the General Services Administration to furnish the Administration with appropriate offices, equipment, and supplies.

Directs the Administration to submit budget information, legislative recommendations, prepared testimony for congressional hearings, and reports to the President or to the Office of Management and Budget and, concurrently, to Congress. Directs the Administration to submit an annual report on its activities to the President for transmittal to Congress.

Directs the United States Travel Service to make a specified sum available to the Administration within 30 days of the date of enactment of this Act.

Establishes the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Sets forth the membership, competition, and duties of such Board.

Directs the United States Travel Service to complete the transfer of its assets, powers, duties, and privileges to the Administration within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Abolishes the United States Travel Service upon completion of such transfer.

=Title III: Amendments to the International Travel Act= - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1981 to carry out the purposes of such Act.

Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial assistance to a region of not less than two States or portions of two States to assist in the implementation of a regional tourism promotional and marketing program. Declares that any such program shall serve as a demonstration project for future program development for regional tourism promotion.

Extends until September 30, 1981, the time limit for the reduction in the number of employees of the United States Travel Service.

Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from reducing to a level below that authorized for fiscal year 1979: (1) the number of United States Travel Service employees in offices in foreign countries; and (2) the amount of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for financing the activities of such foreign offices.