BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                       ACR 166|
          |Office of Senate Floor Analyses   |                              |
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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  ACR 166
          Author:   Chu (D), et al.
          Amended:  5/9/16 in Assembly
          Vote:     21  

          ASSEMBLY FLOOR:  Read and adopted, 5/9/16

           SUBJECT:   California Travel and Tourism Month


          SOURCE:    Visit California


          DIGEST:  This resolution proclaims the month of May 2016, and every May  
          thereafter, as California Travel and Tourism Month to celebrate  
          the leadership of California's tourism industry in growing  
          California's economy and improving the quality of life for all  
          Californians.  
          ANALYSIS:  This resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings:


          1)Travel and tourism is an impressive engine for economic growth  
            and well-being in California as the state welcomes millions of  
            travelers each year to fulfill their California dream,  
            offering diverse experiences, including legendary natural  
            wonders, world-class attractions, and unparalleled  
            opportunities for recreation and learning. 

          2)Travel is a significant pillar of California's economy and is  
            its second largest export industry; injecting $121.2 billion  
            in direct annual spending that generates critical tax revenue  
            that the state and local economies need to thrive.

          3)California's travel and tourism industry created Visit  








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            California as a public-private partnership in 1998 as a global  
            platform to market the California dream and attract visitors  
            from across the United States and international markets.

          4)Tourism, which supports over one million California jobs, is  
            one of the few industries that is significant in all parts of  
            California, from urban to rural, and is an important hedge  
            against economic downturn and labor market changes because  
            jobs in the industry are largely hands-on and cannot be moved  
            overseas or replaced by technology.

          5)Californians benefit from quality tourism job and career  
            pathways, as the industry is a leading provider of employment  
            for individuals looking to work while attending school or  
            raising a family and also provides a diverse array of  
            opportunities at entry, intermediate, and executive level  
            positions. 

          6)The industry continues to show leadership by implementing  
            innovative strategies to encourage environmental conservation  
            and sustainability by reducing water use, investing in energy  
            efficient equipment, training staff on best sustainability  
            practices, and educating visitors on the need to protect the  
            California environment during their stay.

          7)Recognizes that tourism serves an important cultural purpose  
            by bringing individuals from around the world together to  
            foster an important exchange of customs, traditions, and ideas  
            and promote acceptance and understanding.

          This resolution proclaims the month of May 2016, and every May  
          thereafter, as California Travel and Tourism Month to celebrate  
          the leadership of California's tourism industry in growing  
          California's economy and improving the quality of life for all  
          Californians.
          
          FISCAL EFFECT:   Appropriation:    No          Fiscal  
          Com.:NoLocal:    No


          SUPPORT:   (Verified5/17/16)









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          Visit California (source)
          California Chamber of Commerce
          California Travel Association


          OPPOSITION:   (Verified5/17/16)


          None received

          ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:   According to the author, "The  
          multi-billion dollar travel industry in California is a vital  
          part of the state and local economies.  The industry is  
          represented primarily by retail and service firms, including  
          lodging establishments, restaurants, retail stores, gasoline  
          service stations, and other types of businesses that sell their  
          products and services to travelers.  The money that visitors  
          spend on various goods and services while in California produces  
          business receipts at these firms, which in turn employ  
          California residents and pay their wages and salaries.  State  
          and local government units benefit from travel as well.  The  
          state government collects taxes on the gross receipts of  
          businesses operating in the state, as well as sales and use  
          taxes levied on the sale of goods and services to travelers.   
          Local governments also collect sales and use taxes generated  
          from traveler purchases." 


          This resolution is sponsored by Visit California, which provides  
          the following information on their webpage  
          (visitcalifornia.com), "Visit California (also known as the  
          California Travel & Tourism Commission) is a non-profit  
          organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing  
          programs - in partnership with the state's travel industry -  
          that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel  
          destination.  According to a recent Visit California study,  
          travel and tourism expenditures totaled $121.2 billion in 2015  
          in California, supporting jobs for 1,058,000 Californians and  
          generating $9.7 billion in state and local tax revenues.

          "California is a place like no other, a land of abundance and  








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          opportunity-where residents and visitors alike can experience  
          life to the fullest.  This is what distinguishes California from  
          other destinations... The best and the brightest industry  
          leaders provided invaluable assistance in creating a marketing  
          plan that will fortify the California brand and capitalize on  
          emerging opportunities.  California's travel and tourism  
          industry is operating in a new landscape-driven by sustained  
          economic challenges, evolving demographics, emerging technology  
          and shifts in consumer travel patterns.  We see this as an  
          opportunity to strategically market California in a way that is  
          responsive, creative and forward-thinking.  The 2011-2016  
          Strategic Marketing Plan is our roadmap for getting there."








          Prepared by:  Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
          5/18/16 16:23:40


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