AB 2592 - Tourism Funding Bill
August 20, 2006

San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno is working with the tourism industry on a bill which could help increase state tourism promotion spending more than three-fold.

The bill would allow rental car companies to pass through airport concession and tourism promotion fees to consumers who rent from tourist locations. California is currently only one of two states that does not allow this.

In turn the rental car industry will provide funding to the California Travel and Tourism Commission - which markets California tourism nationally and internationally - raising their marketing budget to $50 million within two years. The CTTC currently has a budget of approximately $14 million.

Studies prove that each dollar spent marketing California yields at least $4.50 in tax revenue. It also draws visitors to areas other than the best known tourism destinations which benefits CAPA members large and small.

California tourism is an $87 billion a year industry vital to the state's economy and essential to communities throughout the state.