Federal Homeland Security tourism advocate proposed

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Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | 10:42 a.m.

Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., is working to create a tourism advocate position in the Department of Homeland Security.

Adam Mayberry, a spokesman for Porter, confirmed the effort this morning and said the need for the position is growing as tourism, already the dominant industry in Southern Nevada, increases in importance nationwide.

In defining the need for the Homeland Security position, he pointed to difficulties in providing consistent information about the terrorism threat level in Las Vegas during the 2003 New Year's Eve celebration.

"There ought to be some coordination on a federal level," Mayberry said.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Center for Business and Economic Research has predicted that more than 36 million tourists will visit the city in 2004.