White House sounds more pro-tourism note

At the White House press briefing today, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs made clear that the administration wasn't trying to keep business away from Las Vegas, as President Barack Obama's inartful previous remarks might have suggested.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., has already issued a press release applauding the administration for the comments. In an illustration of the tourism industry's clout, some of its executives met with President Obama on Wednesday.

Here's the press release from Berkley, with Gibbs' remarks appended below:

BERKLEY APPLAUDS WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF TRAVEL TO LAS VEGAS AND OTHER DESTINATIONS BY FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES

(March 12, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.) Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today applauded statements by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs expressing support by the Obama Administration for travel to Las Vegas and other destinations by families and businesses.

“When the White House says to American families and to businesses that they should travel to Las Vegas and other destinations for work or a vacation, it’s a boost to our tourism and convention industry,” said Berkley. “I am very pleased that when given the opportunity, the President’s spokesman made it clear that tourism is a vital part of our nation’s economy and that the industry has the support of this White House. I hope that others will follow the lead of the Obama Administration and speak out about the economic importance of both business travel and tourism. And we will do our part to remind the world that Las Vegas is a destination that offers great value, unsurpassed service and world-class convention, business and hotel facilities – along with a little bit of entertainment,” said Berkley.

Transcript from Briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Question: An op-ed in the Washington Post -- a part of it is about business travel and seems to be referring to what the president said, don't go to Las Vegas or The Super Bowl.

Gibbs: Let's be clear about what the president said. I don't think the president said don't go to Las Vegas. Or don't go to Hawaii or don't go to the Super Bowl, I forget where the super bowl was. Don't go to Tampa. If you have -- it's getting warm. If you have the desire and the where with all to travel to those places, to quote a famous southerner, Delta is ready when you are. What the president expressed some concern about was companies that are getting large amounts of public funding, taxpayer funding through a financial stabilization plan, that the president does have great concern with public money being used for that. But, the president believes in its important to have a strong tourism industry and it's important that as the president said earlier, that or late last week, we shouldn't pull back from. He would encourage people to travel. His concern, the concern he specifically expressed had to do with the use of taxpayer or use of money by institutions that received a lot of assistance from the taxpayers. Obviously, that's not something he would incorporate.

Question: He's concerned comments may have been misconstrued. Any regrets about what he said?

Gibbs: I think the president, despite what some people heard, was very clear about the delineations between families and businesses traveling versus to need to ensure that appropriate protections are in place for taxpayer assistance used to help financial institutions stabilize themselves. They were -- that money was -- is being spent and we assume it will be spent will great care.