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President Obama Signs Tourism Promotion Bill March 5, 2010 -- President Barack Obama has signed a bill that supporters hope will bring more foreign visitors into the U.S. The new law will launch America's first federal advertising campaign aimed at international tourists. The Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau is among the tourism industry groups praising the Tourism Promotion Act. The measure will create a public-private partnership to promote the U.S. as a travel destination and to clarify American security and immigration policies. The new organization will be funded in part by a $10 fee charged to tourists who don’t need visas to enter the U.S., including many European visitors. The tourism industry is also helping fund the group. Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson was a co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate, as was Republican Senator Mel Martinez before he resigned his seat last year. Martinez's replacement, fellow Republican George LeMieux, supported the measure. On the House side, Democrats Alan Grayson of Orlando and Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach were among many Florida Representatives who co-sponsored the bill.
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