Survey of International Air Travelers (In-Flight Survey)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Survey of International Air Travelers (In-Flight Survey)

Action: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the

continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 23,

1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Phone

number: (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should

be directed to: Ron Erdmann, ITA's Tourism Industries, Room 1860, 1400

Constitution Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 482-4554, and

fax: (202) 482-2887.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The International Trade Administration, Tourism Industries office's

``Survey of International Air Travelers'' is the only source for

estimating international travel and passenger fare exports and imports

for this country. This program also supports the U.S. Department of

Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis mandate to collect and report

this type of information which is used to calculate GDP for the United

States. This project also serves as the core data source for Tourism

Industries. Numerous reports and analyses are developed to assist

businesses in increasing U.S. exports in international travel. An

economic impact of international travel on state economies, visitation

estimates, traveler profiles, presentations and reports are generated

by Tourism Industries to help the federal government agencies and the

travel industry better understand the international market. It is also

a service that the U.S. Department of Commerce provides to travel

industry businesses seeking to increase international travel and

passenger fare exports for the country. It provides the only comparable

estimates of non-resident visitation to the states and cities within

the U.S., as well as U.S. resident travel abroad. Traveler

characteristics data are also collected to help travel related

businesses better understand the international travelers to and from

the U.S. so they can developed targeted marketing and other planning

related materials.

II. Method of Collection

The collection is on U.S. and foreign flag airlines who voluntarily

agree to allow us to survey their departing flights from the U.S.

Additional surveys are also collected at U.S. departure airports and

selected U.S. sites as cooperation is obtained from the travel

industry. The survey is printed in several languages.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0605-0007 (new number to be assigned since this survey,

previously conducted by the United States Travel and Tourism

Administration, will now be conducted by ITA.

Form Number: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Renewal-Regular submission.

Affected Public: International travelers departing the United

States 18 years or older which includes U.S. and non-U.S. residents.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 165,600.

Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24,840 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: This is a $2 million research program.

The government only funds $700,00 of this program. The remaining funds

are obtained from inkind contributions of the airlines, airports and

other travel industry partners as well as the sale of this data to the

public. Respondents will not need to purchase equipment or materials to

respond to this collection. There are no real costs to the respondents

other than their time. On average, we are estimating that each

respondent's time is worth about $11.00.

IV. Requested for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on respondents, including through the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: July 17, 1996.

Linda Engelmeier,

Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 96-18730 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE: 3510-DR-U