Senator Visits International Falls

Tourism, economic development and health care will be focus of discussions between International Falls area officials and U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar this morning.

As part of those talks, the Minnesota representative at Capital Hill is promoting a bill that would help market the US tourism industry.

Klobuchar says northern Minnesota has been particularly hurt.

"Not only because of the economy," says Klobuchar, "but since 911 when all these strict rules took place for good reasons, but we've gotten so far behind on processing visas and improving travellers coming in for legitimate reason, that we've lost 20 per cent of the international travel market to other countries."

Klobuchar says US is the only country that doesn't have a focus or ad campaign for tourism.