WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 625

Economic and Employment Development; providing that the Director of the Office
of Tourism Development shall serve as Executive Director of the Board with no
additional compensation; providing for the powers, duties, and functions of the
Board, particularly with respect to the drafting and implementation of a strategic
plan for the promotion and development of tourism in the State; creating a
Maryland Tourism Development Board Fund that consists of certain moneys;
providing for the purpose of the Fund; creating the Advisory Committee on
Tourism; providing for the membership, appointment, and duties of the Advisory
Committee; requiring the Maryland Tourism Development Board, the Secretary of
the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Governor, and the
General Assembly to cooperate in identifying and pursuing funding mechanisms to
ensure the maintenance of adequate and effective tourism development programs in
the State; requiring, by a certain date, the Secretary and the Board to submit a
certain plan to the Legislative Policy Committee that will make certain
recommendations to bolster the State's commitment to enhancing its promotion of
the tourism industry; and relating generally to the Maryland Tourism Development
Board, the Advisory Committee on Tourism, and the promotion of the tourism
industry in the State of Maryland.

BY adding to

Article 83A - Economic and Community Development

Section 4-1A-01 through 4-1A-09, inclusive, to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle
1A. Maryland Tourism Development Board and Advisory Committee on
Tourism"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1991 Replacement Volume and 1992 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Tourism in the State stimulates economic development and capital
investment, thereby resulting in the creation of employment, the growth of income, and
the generation of tax revenues; and

WHEREAS, The tourism industry consists of a wide variety of goods, services, and
facilities that are purchased, leased, rented, used, or consumed by travelers and tourists
in the State in connection with air, intercity bus, intercity rail, and water transportation;
taxicab services; rental automobiles, trucks, trailers, and other vehicles; automotive repair
services; hotels, motels, inns, and other public lodging accommodations; conference and
meeting facilities; campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks; rental vacation
properties; food service, groceries, and beverages; amusements and attractions; sports
and outdoor recreational facilities; and retail shopping facilities; and

WHEREAS, Most of the businesses that are part of the State's tourist industry are
small enterprises that have consistently demonstrated their ability to produce new jobs in
large numbers; and

WHEREAS, Almost every sector of the State's economy benefits directly or
indirectly from the tourism industry; and

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