I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 951 
To promote bilateral tourism through cooperation between the United States 
and Mexico. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 4, 2019 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Mexico 
Tourism Improvement Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States and Mexico have bene-
fitted economically from a bilateral, mutually bene-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H951.IH
H951
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
ficial partnership focused on enhancing the tourism 
industry in both countries. 
(2) In 2016, Mexican tourism to the United 
States peaked at 18,990,585 visitors, constituting 1 
in 4 (24.9 percent) of all tourists that year. 
(3) Additionally, in 2016, spending by Mexican 
tourists in the United States totaled $20.3 billion, 
which represented a 3 percent growth from 2015. 
(4) Tourist activity to the United States from 
Mexico has declined since 2016, which is in contrast 
to an overall international tourism industry increase 
in the United States. 
(5) In 2017, international tourist arrivals to-
taled 76,900,000, up 0.7 percent from 76,400,000 in 
2016. 
(6) The same year, 77,000,000 international 
visitors spent a record $251.4 billion on hotels, trav-
el, food, and souvenirs, a 2-percent increase over 
2016. 
(7) However, also in 2017, there was a 6.1-per-
cent decline in visitors to the United States from 
Mexico, comprising a loss of 1,166,585 Mexican 
tourists from 2016. 
(8) The Department of Commerce has not yet 
released 2017 spending totals by Mexican tourists in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H951.IH
H951
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
the United States, but a corresponding monetary de-
cline would be approximately $1.24 billion in lost 
revenue. 
(9) This is a critical economic trend given that 
Mexico is the biggest source of international visitors 
to the United States after Canada. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States— 
(1) to continue deepening bilateral tourism 
through governmental cooperation between the 
United States and Mexico; 
(2) to improve third-party tourism to the 
United States and Mexico through joint inter-
national promotional efforts; and 
(3) to seek to prioritize and expand the tourism 
industries in both countries by emphasizing ex-
changes in various international economic sectors, 
including relating to— 
(A) hospitality and accommodation; 
(B) retail; 
(C) medical procedures; 
(D) dental care; and 
(E) cultural education. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H951.IH
H951
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. STRATEGY TO EXPAND BILATERAL TOURISM 
THROUGH COOPERATION WITH MEXICO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall de-
velop a strategy through the High Level Economic Dia-
logue (HLED) platform to carry out the bilateral tourism 
policy described in section 3 and to encourage the Govern-
ment of Mexico to take reciprocal action relating to bilat-
eral tourism. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) encourage more joint tourism initiatives be-
tween the United States and Mexico, including col-
laborations between governmental and non-govern-
mental entities; 
(2) encourage United States and Mexican non-
profit institutions and private businesses to assist 
prospective 
and 
developing 
entrepreneurs 
in 
strengthening their business skills in the United 
States and Mexico; and 
(3) assess the feasibility of fostering partner-
ships between medical and dental institutions in the 
United States and Mexico, including hospitals, clin-
ics, medical schools, and dental programs, for the 
purpose of allowing patients greater ease and sense 
of security when considering cross-border medical 
procedure and dental care options. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H951.IH
H951
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
submit to Congress a report on the strategy required 
under subsection (a). 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H951.IH
H951
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS