[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25815-25816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12417]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

TITLE: Survey of International Air Travelers (In-Flight Survey).

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comment to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental 
Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th & 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or copies of the information 
collection instrument and instructions should be directed to: Ron 
Erdmann, ITA's Tourism Industries, Room 1860, 1401 Constitution Ave, 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 482-4554, and fax: (202) 482-
2887.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The International Trade Administration, Tourism Industries' 
``Survey of International Air Travelers'' is the only source for 
estimating international travel and passenger fare exports and imports 
for this country. This program also supports the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis mandate to collect and report 
this type of information which is used to calculate Gross Domestic 
Products for the United States. In addition, this project serves as the 
core data source for Tourism Industries. Numerous reports and analyses 
are developed to assist businesses in increasing U.S. exports in 
international travel. An economic impact of international travel on 
state economies, visitation estimates, traveler profiles, presentations 
and reports are generated by Tourism Industries to help the federal 
government agencies and the travel industry better understand the 
international market. It is also a service that the U.S. Department of 
Commerce provides to travel industry businesses seeking to increase 
international travel and passenger fare exports for the country. It 
provides the only comparable estimates of nonresident visitation to the 
states and cities within the U.S., as well as U.S. resident travel 
abroad. Traveler characteristics data are also collected to help travel 
related businesses better understand the international travelers to and 
from the U.S. so they can develop targeted marketing and other planning 
related materials.

II. Method of Data Collection

    The collection is on U.S. and foreign flag airlines who voluntarily 
agree to allow us to survey their departing flights from the U.S. 
Additional survey are also collected at U.S. departure airports and 
selected U.S. sites as cooperation is obtained from the travel 
industry.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0625-0227.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    Type of Review: Extension-regular submission.
    Affected Public: International travelers departing the United 
States 18 years or older which includes U.S. and non-U.S. residents.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 165,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24,840 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: This is a $2.2 million research 
program. The government only funds $800,000 of this program. The 
remaining funds are obtained from inkind contributions of the airlines, 
airports and other travel industry partners as well as the sale of this 
data to the public. Respondents will not need to purchase equipment or 
materials to respond to this collection.

IV. Requested for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

[[Page 25816]]

(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 5, 1998.
Linda Englemeier,
Department Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-12417 Filed 5-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-M