Posted by Terri Hardin under TravelResponses (0)

The Travel Industry Association, National Tour Association and Travel Business Roundtable—organizations that are advocating legislation that would create the first-ever substantial U.S. promotion program aimed at international travelers—have taken their concerns to South Carolina and Florida presidential primary voters. According to a survey conducted by Alexandria, VA-based pollster Ayers McHenry & Associates of 1,200 likely Republican and Democratic presidential primary voters in these two key states—travel emerges as a bipartisan issue.

On Monday, Roger Dow, president and CEO, Travel Industry Association, Lisa Simon, president, National Tour Association, Chuck Merin, president, Travel Business Roundtable, and Whit Ayres, principal, Ayers McHenry & Associates, gathered together to discussed the results of that poll, including the opinion of three-fifths of likely voters in 2008 presidential primaries, that candidates have not adequately addressed issues surrounding travel and tourism, and that between one-third and one-half of voters in both states would be more likely to vote for a candidate who does.

“The poll is a clear indication that Americans want dialogue on these important issues,” says NTA’s Simon.  “NTA is encouraging the 2008 presidential candidates to make travel and tourism part of their platforms and is actively bringing the issues to their attention.”

The poll, which targeted South Carolina and Florida as states where voters would most likely be aware of the contributions tourism makes to their economies, looked particularly at air travel. In key findings, the majority of Republicans and Democrats agreed that it is possible to reduce wait times in airports without reducing security; and that the federal government can do for more to improve the travel process.

For more information about the poll, go to the TIA website.