GOV. LINDA LINGLE’S SENATE CAMPAIGN IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL FOR TOURISM SECTOR TO INVIGORATE ECONOMY, STIMULATE JOB GROWTH

News Release from Lingle2012.com

HONOLULU – Former Hawaii Governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Linda Lingle continued her commitment to an issues-based campaign with the release today of a new video on TOURISM and JOBS.

In this latest in the series of videos, Gov. Lingle points out the glaring weakness in how the federal government approaches the tourism industry by lacking a unified plan or coordinating agency for devising strategies that can help the industry and in turn boost the economy. Gov. Lingle draws this stark contrast from the way she approached the challenge during her public career in Hawaii, when as Governor she was the first to create a Cabinet-level position responsible for interfacing with the tourism industry in the state.

“Tourism is one of the primary engines that drives Hawaii’s economy. As Maui’s Mayor and later as Hawaii’s Governor, my Administrations always gave the visitor industry the attention it deserves, ensuring our strategies for improving and spurring growth for this important sector were coordinated and consistent,” said Gov. Lingle.

Tourism and related businesses such as airlines, rental car companies, retail and restaurants are of critical importance to the United States as a whole, representing nearly 10 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and employing an estimated 14 million Americans.

With a campaign stressing her commitment to finding practical, common-sense solutions that put Hawaii’s “People First,” Linda Lingle sees in the nation’s tourism industry an opportunity to bring immediate positive impact to the economy.

“If elected Senator, I want to bring this same, sensible approach to the federal level, and serve as the point person for tourism in the U.S. Senate,” Gov. Lingle added. “Tourism is an area where a coordinated approach would reap immediate benefits for Hawaii’s people and the rest of the nation, by stimulating the economy and creating more quality jobs.”

In the issue-focused video, Gov. Lingle cites U.S. Chamber of Commerce statistics that show a return to tourism levels of 2000 would create 1.3 million more jobs for Americans.

The video is available to view on the Linda Lingle Senate Campaign’s YouTube Page at www.YouTube.com/Lingle2012.

Additional information on the Linda Lingle Senate Campaign is available at www.Lingle2012.com.

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