Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Data Collection

To effectively administer and monitor its economic development assistance programs, EDA collects certain information from applications for, and recipients of, EDA investment assistance. Under the EDA American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation, award recipients are required to submit identified program metrics and information to ensure that EDA regional development investments are evidence-based and data-driven, and accountable to participants and the public. EDA will require electronic survey of the 332 Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation award recipients. Of these, 30 award recipients will also participate in a phone interview. This collection instrument will collect baseline data from awardees that will lay the foundation for a future evaluation of EDA’s investments in travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation. The survey will be conducted once. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328) requires the Commerce Department to produce a report to Congress on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the travel industry. This legislation included language specifying that in writing this report, Commerce should consult with industry officials, including Destination Marketing Organizations and State Travel Directors. Commerce has produced an interim report. In preparing for the final report, which is due in December 2023, Commerce intends asking State Tourism Directors to supply comments on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their state and the current conditions of travel in their state and incorporating their comments into the final report.

The latest form for Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Data Collection expires 2026-07-31 and can be found here.