"I represent the state of Las Vegas," joked Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., at news conference unveiling the bill. "What I mean is that I represent a community that has specialized in inviting visitors to our great state. As a community, we face similar challenges as the rest of the country."

Porter is a main sponsor of the bill, along with Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif.

Added Farr: "The perception around the world is that America does not welcome international visitors. We are perceived abroad as 'Fortress America.' "

The bill cites a 17 percent drop nationally in overseas visitors since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Introduction of the bill is the newest effort by the travel industry and its backers in Congress to increase the federal role in tourism promotion since the dismantling of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration a decade ago for budget cuts.

"Since 9/11 there have been 16 million fewer travelers to the U.S., 200,000 jobs have been lost, and almost $16 billion in tax revenue and about $94 billion less in spending across the country," Porter said.

The bill would authorize $10 million a year for five years for promotional campaigns to lure tourists and change international perceptions of the United States. Grants of between $150,000 and $1 million would be made available to states and communities to carry out the efforts.

The program would be run through the State Department, where the Office of Public Diplomacy works to polish the U.S. image abroad.

If the bill is approved, it would mean a 250 percent increase over the current federal spending of $4 million a year for international travel promotion.

In comparison, Mexico spends $149 million and Canada spends $60 million for tourism promotions, bill sponsors said.

Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, spoke in favor of the bill.

"We have a plan that by the end of the decade will generate 43 million visitors annually, to get there the international component is very critical," Ralenkotter said of Las Vegas. "Right now about 13 percent of visitors to Las Vegas come from international destinations, but we need to grow that market to 15 percent -- that means a million more international visits a year."

Ralenkotter said the Convention and Visitors Authority recently opened an office in Canada and is going to start advertising in Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Ralenkotter said Nevada spends $16.2 million annually to advertise itself abroad.