The U.S. travel and tourism sector, the main economic and employment engine in a number of states, suffered a steep decline in 2008 and 2009 as the nation sank into recession. Though the United States remained the world's top travel destination by dollar value, spending by foreign visitors in the country plunged 15% in 2009. Travel and tourism, which account for 6% of U.S. employment, began to rebound in 2010, but there have been concerns about a possible decline in business along the Gulf Coast due to the April 2010 BP oil spill. This new book examines the U.S. travel and tourism industry today and the challenges and issues for the future