I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2723 

To promote bilateral tourism through cooperation between the United States 

and Mexico. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 21, 2021 

Mr. CUELLAR (for himself and Mr. MCCAUL) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To promote bilateral tourism through cooperation between 

the United States and Mexico. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Mexico 

5 Tourism Improvement Act of 2021’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The United States and Mexico have bene9 fitted economically from a bilateral, mutually beneVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 Jun 04, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2723.IH H2723

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1 ficial partnership focused on enhancing the tourism 

2 industry in both countries. 

3 (2) In 2016, Mexican tourism to the United 

4 States peaked at 18,990,585 visitors, constituting 1 

5 in 4 (24.9 percent) of all tourists that year. 

6 (3) Additionally, in 2016, spending by Mexican 

7 tourists in the United States totaled $17.5 billion, 

8 which represented a 0.7 percent growth from 2015. 

9 (4) Tourist activity to the United States from 

10 Mexico has declined since 2016, which is in contrast 

11 to an overall international tourism industry increase 

12 in the United States. 

13 (5) In 2019, international tourist arrivals to14 taled 79,300,000, up 3.8 percent from 76,400,000 in 

15 2016. 

16 (6) However, also in 2019, there was a 3.5-per17 cent decline in visitors to the United States from 

18 Mexico compared to 2016, comprising a loss of 

19 662,404 Mexican tourists. 

20 (7) In addition, the total spending from Mexi21 can tourists has plateaued, only increasing slightly 

22 from $17.5 billion in 2016 to $17.6 billion in 2019, 

23 comprising an increase of $72 million, or 0.4 per24 cent. 


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1 (8) This is a critical economic trend given that 

2 annually Mexico is the biggest source of inter3 national visitors to the United States after Canada. 

4 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

5 It is the policy of the United States— 

6 (1) to continue deepening bilateral tourism 

7 through governmental cooperation between the 

8 United States and Mexico; 

9 (2) to improve third-party tourism to the 

10 United States and Mexico through joint inter11 national promotional efforts; and 

12 (3) to seek to prioritize and expand the tourism 

13 industries in both countries by emphasizing ex14 changes in various international economic sectors, 

15 including relating to— 

16 (A) hospitality and accommodation; 

17 (B) retail; and 

18 (C) cultural education. 

19 SEC. 4. STRATEGY TO EXPAND BILATERAL TOURISM 

20 THROUGH COOPERATION WITH MEXICO. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall de22 velop a strategy through the High Level Economic Dia23 logue (HLED) platform to carry out the bilateral tourism 

24 policy described in section 3 and to encourage the GovernVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 Jun 04, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2723.IH H2723

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1 ment of Mexico to take reciprocal action relating to bilat2 eral tourism. 

3 (b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under sub4 section (a) shall— 

5 (1) encourage more joint tourism initiatives be6 tween the United States and Mexico, including col7 laborations between governmental and nongovern8 mental entities; and 

9 (2) encourage United States and Mexican non10 profit institutions and private businesses to assist 

11 prospective and developing entrepreneurs in 

12 strengthening their business skills in the United 

13 States and Mexico. 

14 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

16 submit to Congress a report on the strategy required 

17 under subsection (a). 

Æ 


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