Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

TITLE: Survey of International Air Travelers (In-Flight Survey).

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 July 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comment to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental

Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th &

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

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, 1401 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'

``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, Bureau of Economic Analysis mandate to collect and report

this type of information which is used to calculate Gross Domestic

Products for the United States. In addition, this project 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 nonresident 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 develop targeted marketing and other planning

related materials.

II. Method of Data 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 survey are also collected at U.S. departure airports and

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

industry.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0227.

Form Number: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Extension-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 $2.2 million research

program. The government only funds $800,000 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.

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

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(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: May 5, 1998.

Linda Englemeier,

Department Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-12417 Filed 5-8-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-M