---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 2123a"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "2123a"
heading: "Research program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2123a"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — International Travel"
  - "Subchapter II — Duties"
---

# §2123a. Research program

- (a) **In general—** The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries shall expand and continue its research and development activities in connection with the promotion of international travel to the United States, including—
  - (1) expanding access to the official Mexican travel surveys data to provide the States with traveler characteristics and visitation estimates for targeted marketing programs;
  - (2) expanding the number of inbound air travelers sampled by the Commerce Department’s Survey of International Travelers to reach a 1 percent sample size and revising the design and format of questionnaires to accommodate a new survey instrument, improve response rates to at least double the number of States and cities with reliable international visitor estimates and improve market coverage;
  - (3) developing estimates of international travel exports (expenditures) on a State-by-State basis to enable each State to compare its comparative position to national totals and other States;
  - (4) evaluate the success of the Corporation in achieving its objectives and carrying out the purposes of [section 2131 of this title](/usc/22/2131.md); and
  - (5) research to [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) the annual reports required by [section 2123(d) of this title](/usc/22/2123.md?p=d).
- (b) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Commerce for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–63, title II, § 203, as added Pub. L. 111–145, § 9(j), formerly § 9(h), Mar. 4, 2010, 124 Stat. 64; renumbered 9(j), Pub. L. 113–235, div. B, title VI, § 606(1), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2219.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2123a, Pub. L. 87–63, title II, § 203, as added Pub. L. 102–372, § 8(a), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1177, provided for program of financial assistance to cooperative tourism marketing programs, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–288, § 9(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3407.

Another prior section 2123a, Pub. L. 87–63, title II, § 203, formerly § 5, June 29, 1961, 75 Stat. 130; renumbered title II, § 203, and amended Pub. L. 97–63, § 3(e), Oct. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1013, directed Secretary to submit annual reports to President and Congress on activities under this chapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–372, § 8(a), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1177. Section was formerly classified to section 2125 of this title prior to its renumbering by Pub. L. 97–63.