National Travel and Tourism Week was established as National Tourism Week in 1983 when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating the week to be celebrated in May 1984. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with "the appropriate ceremonies and activities." Industry leaders and public relations professionals from the major travel and tourism trade associations were the first volunteers to manage the annual event. By January 1986 industry leaders had formed a permanent full-time office at the U.S. Travel Association to sponsor the event and expand tourism awareness into year-round programs.
"Travel Matters"
Join hundreds of cities, states and businesses nationwide in the annual salute to travel and tourism in America, presented by the U.S. Travel Association.
National Travel and Tourism Week is a collective effort to promote the power of travel through customized events in communities nationwide. The goal is to enhance the country's economy, security and perception, and recognize the cultural and social benefits created by travel and tourism.
In 2009, the first-ever U.S. Travel Rally Day will be staged in communities nationwide on May 12, with convention and visitors bureau leaders uniting with local government and business leaders to promote the message that "Travel Matters".
The public knows about tourism’s direct impact on businesses like attractions, hotels and restaurants. But less well known is the indirect economic impact of tourism on the businesses that keep attractions, hotels and restaurants running—businesses such as:
- Hardware stores
- Carpet and window distributors and manufacturers
- Plumbing and construction companies.
When tourists come to North Carolina, businesses and citizens win.
North Carolina Quick Facts*
- Travel in North Carolina generated more than $16.5 billion in tourism-related expenditures, an increase of 8.3 percent over the previous year.
- The tourism industry directly employs over 190,000 North Carolinians with a payroll of $4 billion.
- Tourism in North Carolina generates more than $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.
- Each North Carolina household would pay $370 more in state and local taxes without the tax revenue generated by visitors to North Carolina.
- Visitor spending in North Carolina has increased more than 50 percent in the past 10 years and as a result state tax revenue from visitor spending has increased 34 percent.
National Quick Facts*
- Travel and tourism generates $1.6 trillion in total economic activity in the U.S. each year.
- Travel and tourism is one of the country's largest employers with 7.5 million workers.
- Travel and tourism generates $110 billion in tax revenue for local, state, and federal governments.
View other information on the economic impact of tourism by visiting our research section.
Tourism Week Toolkit
The Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development works with industry partners to make Tourism Week a success. We’ve included some useful tools below to help you tell the tourism industry’s success story: