National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, is marking its 40th anniversary of highlighting the essential role hospitality plays in the country’s economy and social fabric.
From May 7 to 13, destinations, DMOs, event planners, and others are taking part in the festivities, focusing on the theme of #TravelForward.
“The travel industry fuels every industry—our industry’s success is the nation’s success,” says U.S. Travel Association (USTA) president and CEO Geoff Freeman. “This week is a prime opportunity to elevate the message that travel is essential to moving America’s economy forward.”
Established in 1983, NTTW is an annual tradition to mark the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating communities, creating job opportunities, stimulating business activity, and improving the quality of life for everyday Americans.
According to a USTA news release, the U.S. travel industry generated a $2.6 trillion economic output in 2022 and supported 15 million jobs.
Travel spending also generated nearly $160 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022—revenue that helped fund public services while saving each U.S. household an average of $1,270 in taxes, according to the USTA.
Several Southern destinations took part in celebrating NTTW. For example, Visit El Paso in Texas is holding a taco and tequila tour in the city on May 11 and a NTTW luncheon on May 12 at the El Paso Convention Center.
Meanwhile, the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau’s NTTW celebrations include recognizing the businesses and attractions that are the favorites among the vacationers.
In its second year, the Visitors’ Choice Awards honors some of visitors’ most popular attractions and businesses through a survey that was sent to thousands of Daytona Beach area visitors in the CVB’s database and promoted through its social media channels. Taking home this year’s Award of Excellence is Volusia County Beaches.
