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Posted: Friday, March 5th, 2010 4:52 AM HST

State tourism agency lauds new federal travel law

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Tourism Authority is lauding enactment of the Travel Promotion Act. President Barack Obama signed the new federal law on Thursday. It sets up a nonprofit corporation for travel promotion tasked with assuring potential visitors that they will be welcomed, helping them with paperwork and informing them of the many places of interest in the United States outside the usual tourist destinations. Costs for the program would be divided equally between the government and private industry, with Washington contributing up to $100 million a year. Hawaii Tourism Authority President Mike McCartney says the act will contribute to his agency's efforts to attract international visitors to Hawaii, and generate significant new consumer spending. (Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved)