---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 2123"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "2123"
heading: "Office of Travel Promotion"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2123"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — International Travel"
  - "Subchapter II — Duties"
---

# §2123. Office of Travel Promotion

- (a) **Office established—** There is established within the Department of Commerce an [office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) to be known as the [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) of Travel Promotion.
- (b) **Director—**
  - (1) **Appointment—** The [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5).
  - (2) **Qualifications—** The Director shall be a citizen of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) and have experience in a field directly related to the promotion of travel to and within the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1).
  - (3) **Duties—** The Director shall be responsible for ensuring the [office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) is carrying out its functions effectively and shall report to the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5).
- (c) **Functions—** The [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) shall—
  - (1) serve as liaison to the [Corporation](/usc/22/7702.md?p=6) for Travel Promotion established by [subsection (b)](/usc/22/11.md) of section 11 of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009[^1] and support and encourage the development of [programs](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) to increase the number of international visitors to the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) for business, leisure, educational, medical, exchange, and other purposes;
  - (2) work with the [Corporation](/usc/22/7702.md?p=6), the Secretary of State and the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Homeland Security—
    - (A) to disseminate information more effectively to potential international visitors about documentation and procedures required for admission to the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) as a visitor;
    - (B) to ensure that arriving international visitors are generally welcomed with accurate information and in an inviting manner;
    - (C) to collect accurate data on the total number of international visitors that visit each State; and
    - (D) enhance the entry and departure experience for international visitors through the use of advertising, signage, and customer service; and
  - (3) support State, regional, and private sector initiatives to promote travel to and within the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1).
- (d) **Reports to Congress—** Within a year after March 4, 2010, and periodically thereafter as appropriate, the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Senate Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Relations, the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, and the House of Representatives Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Affairs describing the [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9)’s work with the [Corporation](/usc/22/7702.md?p=6), the Secretary of State and the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Homeland Security to carry out [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–63, title II, § 202, as added Pub. L. 111–145, § 9(i), formerly § 9(g), Mar. 4, 2010, 124 Stat. 63; renumbered 9(i), Pub. L. 113–235, div. B, title VI, § 606(1), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2219.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Subsection (b) of section 11 of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), probably should be a reference to subsection (b) of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which is classified to section 2131(b) of this title.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2123, Pub. L. 87–63, title II, § 202, formerly § 3, June 29, 1961, 75 Stat. 130; Pub. L. 91–477, §§ 1, 2, Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1071, 1072; renumbered and amended Pub. L. 97–63, § 3(c), (d), (e)(1), Oct. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1012, 1013; Pub. L. 102–372, §§ 4(n), 6(b), (c), 7, 8(b), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1174, 1176, 1178, enumerated duties of Secretary of Commerce in carrying out national tourism policy, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–288, § 9(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3407.