SB 1057 would
prevent rental car companies from charging consumers a tourism
assessment used to fund and promote California as a tourist
destination across the country and around the world.
This assessment generates over $50 million towards the funding
and promotion of tourism. With this funding, the Californ
tourism commission is able to significantly strengthen and
expand current marketing and advertising efforts in key existing
domestic and international markets and introduce the California
brand to new domestic and international opportunity markets.
Tourism is California’s fourth largest employer and fifth
largest contributor to the gross state product. Today the travel
and tourism industry brings in over $93.8 billion to the state
economy, employs over 928,720 Californians and generates
approximately $2.1 billion in local taxes and $3.5 billion in
state taxes. The importance of investing in the promotion of
California as a tourist destination cannot be underscored
enough. The ability to continue to market California as a global
destination for tourism will be vital to sustaining this
critical component of our state’s economy.