‘Quest for quality’ was the theme of the 7th annual Caribbean tourism conference held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, 14–17 June, 1983. David Edgell of the US travel and tourism administration reports.

The growth of inbound international tourism to the USA has been great in recent years yet recognition of its economic and other importance has not always grown at the same rate. David Edgell, Director of the Office of Policy and Planning of the US Travel and Tourism Administration, here argues the need for more coordinated policies towards tourism at the local and national level, for concomitant improved funding and for increasing efforts at all levels to attract the international traveller to the USA. This viewpoint is the substance of a speech made to the National Association of Regional Council's in Kansas City, Missouri, in May 1983. Since that date some moves have been made at the national level to increase federal funding for tourism.