The U.S. Department of Commerce
assists in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of tourism
data. This Survey (the SIAT is an existing program with revisions)
is required (1) to comply with the U.S. Travel Promotion Act of
2009 (Pub. L. 111-145 Sec 8); (2) to provide source data to analyze
and report information to the Corporation for Travel
Promotion/Brand USA, Inc.; (3) to comply with the 1945, 1961, 1981
and 1996 travel and tourism related acts to collect and publish
comprehensive international travel and tourism statistics and other
marketing information; (4) to fulfill U.S. Department of Commerce
and agency directives to provide information on international
travel characteristics and spending patterns, service exports and
imports for the United States and (5) adhere to the elements of the
2012 National Travel and Tourism Strategy. The population of
potential respondents consists of international air passengers who
are departing the United States on participating airlines. Changes
envisioned are: (1) Enhanced testing of the QR code/Mobile phone
approach to leverage international airlines’ growing capability of
offering international Wi-Fi to its on-board passengers; (2)
Evaluation of a ‘short form’ version of the paper questionnaire (23
of the existing 33 questions) to reduce burden and improve
passenger response rates when time is limited in the boarding area
due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions; (3)
Evaluation of a ‘‘land version’’ of the questionnaire should the
U.S. Department of Commerce implement a surveying process at the
U.S.–Canada and U.S.–Mexico borders. (Note: As of June 21, 2021,
the government of Canada has discontinued surveying Canadian
residents who visited the United States and the government of
Mexico does not disclose details on Mexican visitors to the United
States. The U.S. Travel Promotion Act of 2009 has mandated that the
U.S. Department of Commerce implement a visitor data collection
program on the southern border.)
The reported 'Annual Time
Burden' is being brought into alignment with 'Annual Time Burden'
reported in the Federal Register Notice (FRN). Calculation used in
the FRN is: (300,000 responses x 15 minutes ea.)/60 minutes =
75,000 .
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form OMB Control No. 06 Survey of International Air Travelers
0625-0227 Supporting Statement Part B.docx
Survey of International Air Travelers