United States-Mexico Tourism Improvement Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2723 | Sponsor: Rep. Cuellar, Henry (D-TX)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
United States-Mexico Tourism Improvement Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of State to develop and report to Congress a strategy to improve bilateral tourism between the United States and Mexico and third-party tourism to the two countries. The strategy shall involve dialogue and cooperation between the two governments, and it shall prioritize sectors including hospitality, retail, and cultural education.

To promote bilateral tourism through cooperation between the United 
                           States and Mexico.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States and Mexico have benefitted 
        economically from a bilateral, mutually beneficial 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 $17.5 billion, which represented a 
        0.7 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 2019, international tourist arrivals totaled 
        79,300,000, up 3.8 percent from 76,400,000 in 2016.
            (6) However, also in 2019, there was a 3.5-percent decline 
        in visitors to the United States from Mexico compared to 2016, 
        comprising a loss of 662,404 Mexican tourists.
            (7) In addition, the total spending from Mexican tourists 
        has plateaued, only increasing slightly from $17.5 billion in 
        2016 to $17.6 billion in 2019, comprising an increase of $72 
        million, or 0.4 percent.
            (8) This is a critical economic trend given that annually 
        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 international promotional efforts; and
            (3) to seek to prioritize and expand the tourism industries 
        in both countries by emphasizing exchanges in various 
        international economic sectors, including relating to--
                    (A) hospitality and accommodation;
                    (B) retail; and
                    (C) cultural education.

SEC. 4. STRATEGY TO EXPAND BILATERAL TOURISM THROUGH COOPERATION WITH 
              MEXICO.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall develop a strategy 
through the High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) platform to carry out 
the bilateral tourism policy described in section 3 and to encourage 
the Government of Mexico to take reciprocal action relating to 
bilateral tourism.
    (b) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) encourage more joint tourism initiatives between the 
        United States and Mexico, including collaborations between 
        governmental and nongovernmental entities; and
            (2) encourage United States and Mexican nonprofit 
        institutions and private businesses to assist prospective and 
        developing entrepreneurs in strengthening their business skills 
        in the United States and Mexico.
    (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).
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