Discover America Partnership

The Discover America Partnership is an effort launched in September 2006 by the U.S. tourism industry to promote tourism to the U.S. as a means of improving America's image overseas. According to its website:


 * The greatest public diplomacy tool America has is her people. Those who have visited the U.S. and interacted with the American people consistently feel more positive about the U.S. than those who have not visited (Pew Attitudes Global Project, 2006).

DAP states that the United States faces an "image crisis" because "In most countries, favorable opinions of America are well below 50%." It seeks to increase the number of tourists visiting the U.S. by 10 million people per year, creating "people-to-people" communication which "builds understanding in a way that no other form of communication can match."

In March 2007, however, DAP noted that efforts to increase tourism have not been as successful as hoped. "We have lost nearly 60 million international travelers since 9/11 and the problem is only getting worse,” said DAP Executive Director Geoff Freeman. "As travel around the world skyrockets, the U.S. is mired in a slump. It is time for Congress to address this growing problem in a way that both strengthens our security and improves the efficiency of the travel process."

Sponsors

 * Steve Porter, president of the InterContinental Hotels Group, the Americas
 * Joseph A. McInerney, chief executive of the American Hotel and Lodging Association;
 * Roger Dow, chief executive of the Travel Industry Association
 * Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Personnel

 * Geoff Freeman, Executive Director
 * Heather Epkins, Director of Communications, phone (202) 408-2172; email heather AT poweroftravel.org
 * Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has worked for DAP as an advisor

Contact information
Discover America Partnership

1100 New York Avenue, NW Suite 450

Washington, DC 20005

http://www.poweroftravel.org