This Act would create a formal framework for US-Taiwan travel and tourism cooperation, led by a new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, with involvement from the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State. It defines the leadership and the scope of engagement, and it sets reporting and security safeguards for the collaboration.
Within 90 days of enactment, the Assistant Secretary must engage Taiwan authorities to expand cooperation on travel and tourism, while pursuing opportunities across hospitality, transportation, and cultural exchange. It also requires a Department of Homeland Security report on the feasibility and plan for a Taiwan-based preclearance facility, with an Indo-Pacific footprint, within 180 days, and annual joint reports on implementation for the following five years.
At a Glance
What It Does
Not later than 90 days after enactment, the Assistant Secretary, with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State, must engage Taiwan authorities to expand cooperation on travel and tourism. The act requires ongoing cooperation efforts across events, cultural exchange, safety coordination, and mutual benefit to travel industries, all while protecting sensitive information and US economic interests.
Who It Affects
Industries and actors in travel and tourism (airlines, hotels, travel distributors, attractions, and tourism offices), government partners (Commerce, State, DHS), and Taiwan authorities.
Why It Matters
It creates a formal mechanism for expanding travel and tourism ties with Taiwan, potentially boosting flows and economic links while embedding security and data-protection safeguards.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill creates a cross-government framework to deepen U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on travel and tourism. It designates an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism who will coordinate with the Secretaries of Commerce and State to engage Taiwan within a tight 90-day window to identify opportunities for closer collaboration in travel, tourism, and related services.
The interaction spans coordination across hotels, restaurants, transportation, cultural heritage sites, and tourism marketing, with a focus on safety and mutual economic benefits. The statute emphasizes safeguarding sensitive information and U.S. economic interests as these partnerships develop.
It also directs a Homeland Security analysis of possible preclearance facilities in Taiwan or within the Indo-Pacific region, assessing feasibility, planning, trade and tourism impacts, border operations, cost savings, and security implications. That analysis would feed annual congressional reporting for five years to monitor implementation and challenges.
The overarching design is a formal, security-conscious framework to accelerate travel and people-to-people ties with Taiwan through coordinated policy and operations.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill creates an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to lead US-Taiwan travel coordination.
Within 90 days, the Secretary must engage Taiwan authorities to expand travel and tourism cooperation.
Annual joint reports on cooperation and gaps are required for five years after enactment.
A DHS-led report (within 180 days) analyzes preclearance feasibility in Taiwan or Indo-Pacific sites and related impacts.
The cooperation framework includes protections for sensitive information and US economic interests.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act. The section establishes the act’s name and citation for reference in future law and oversight.
Definitions
This section defines key terms: “Appropriate Congressional Committees” spanning both Senate and House panels relevant to commerce, foreign relations, homeland security, and fiscal oversight; and “Assistant Secretary,” referring to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism who leads the effort.
Tourism Cooperation with Taiwan
Section 3 lays out the core coordination framework. Not later than 90 days after enactment, the Assistant Secretary, with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State, must seek to engage Taiwanese authorities to expand cooperation on travel and tourism. It requires efforts to identify opportunities across travel and hospitality—hotels, restaurants, retail, travel distribution, attractions, and transport—while advancing safety, cultural heritage interactions, and mutual business benefits. It also obligates protection of sensitive information and U.S. economic interests during collaboration.
Report on preclearance facilities in Taiwan
This section requires a DHS-led report within 180 days, in consultation with the Commerce and State Secretaries, assessing the feasibility of a Taiwan-based preclearance facility or other Indo-Pacific locations. The report must analyze impacts on trade, tourism, travel for business, potential cost savings, government-to-government collaboration, border staffing, and U.S. policy objectives, including homeland security considerations.
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Explore Foreign Affairs in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- U.S. travel and hospitality industries (airlines, hotels, tour operators) gain coordinated opportunities and potential increased demand.
- Taiwan’s tourism sector and its government gain formal engagement channels and promotional cooperation.
- U.S. travel marketing and state/local tourism offices benefit from closer cross-border coordination and market opportunities.
- U.S. travelers and travel-related businesses benefit from smoother travel processes and enhanced safety coordination.
- Federal agencies (Department of Commerce, State, DHS) gain a clear framework for policy coordination and oversight.
Who Bears the Cost
- DHS/CBP resources to conduct the preclearance feasibility analysis and potential implementation.
- U.S. industry players to align with new coordination requirements and potential compliance costs.
- Federal agencies to fulfill annual reporting requirements and ongoing coordination duties.
- Taxpayers may bear the costs of implementing reports and potential program pilots.
- Taiwanese authorities and partners bear coordination costs and compliance burdens to participate in the new framework.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing the incentivized gains from expanded travel and economic ties with Taiwan against homeland security concerns and the protection of sensitive information, all within a finite timeline and with uncertain funding and implementation paths.
The bill creates a proactive framework for closer people-to-people ties through travel and tourism, but it also introduces security, data protection, and sovereignty considerations that will need careful management. The preclearance analysis in Section 4 invites questions about funding, timelines, and how security risks will be measured and mitigated.
The success of the cooperation hinges on clear accountability, defined performance metrics, and practical collaboration rules that constrain data sharing and protect U.S. economic interests while enabling meaningful engagement with Taiwan.
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