PUBLIC LAW 104-288—OCT. 11, 1996 110 STAT. 3403 (11) Because the United States Travel and Tourism Administration had insufficient resources and effectiveness to reverse the recent decline in the United States' share of international travel and tourism, Congress discontinued USTTA's funding. (12) Promotion of the United States' international travel and tourism interests can be more effectively managed by a private organization at less cost to the taxpayers. (b) PURPOSE. — The purpose of this Act is to create a privately managed, federally sanctioned United States National Tourism Organization to represent and promote United States international travel and tourism. SEC. 3. UNITED STATES NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION. 22 USC 2141a. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— There is established the United States National Tourism Organization which shall be a private not-forprofit organization. (b) ORGANIZATION NOT A FEDERAL AGENCY. —The Organization shall (1) not be considered a Federal agency, (2) have employees appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, and (3) not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act or any other Federal law governing the operation of Federal agencies. (c) IRS STATUS. — The Organization shall be presumed to have the status of an organization described in section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 until such time as the Secretary of the Treasury determines that the Organization does not meet the requirements of such section. (d) PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION.— The Organization shall— (1) seek and work for an increase in the share of the United States in the global tourism market; (2) work in conjunction with Federal, State, and local agencies to develop and implement a coordinated United States travel and tourism policy; (3) advise the President, the Congress, and the domestic travel and tourism industry on the implementation of the national travel and tourism strategy and on other matters affecting travel and tourism; (4) operate travel and tourism promotion programs outside the United States in partnership with the travel and tourism industry in the United States; (5) establish a travel and tourism data bank to gather and disseminate travel and tourism market data; (6) conduct market research necessary for effective promotion of the travel and tourism market; and (7) promote United States travel and tourism, including international trade shows and conferences. (e) POWERS OF THE ORGANIZATION. — The Organization— (1) shall have perpetual succession; (2) shall represent the United States travel and tourism industry in its relations with international tourism agencies; (3) may sue and be sued, make contracts, and acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property, as may be necessary for its corporate purposes;
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