NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK is May 3-11, 2014
The first week of May is recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984, established by a Congressional joint resolution passed in 1983.
The U.S. travel community has collectively marked the event in a number of creative ways, from staging local rallies and conducting media outreach to securing proclamations and resolutions from local legislative bodies. Each year, localized events are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel.
This year’s theme is “Travel Effect”:
This theme aligns with the current industry-wide campaign to prove the benefits of travel.
Research studies on travel’s positive effect on relationships, health, education, meetings and more, provide opportunities to tailor messaging about the impact of travel. Access current economic impact data, including a state-by-state interactive map, to spotlight the Travel Effect in your area.
In 2014, Travel Effect will broaden its focus to examine America’s “Day Off Deficit” and explore what it could mean to individuals, businesses and the economy if U.S. workers were motivated to use more of the time off they’ve earned and deserve. Stay tuned for new research in the coming weeks.
Champion the Benefits of Travel! Travel Rally Day is Tuesday, May 6!
Travel Rally Day is a concerted effort to demonstrate travel’s positive impact on local workers, businesses and economies – and, of course, on personal lives of travelers. Individual events are staged in cities nationwide during National Travel and Tourism Week.
The goal of Rally Day is to unite the local travel community with its supporters and publicly represent the importance of travel to media and elected officials.
Join the conversation by following @USTravel, #NTTW and #TravelEffect.
SOME VERY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY!
LEISURE TRAVEL
■ Direct spending on leisure travel by domestic and international travelers totaled $564 billion in 2011.
■ Spending on leisure travel generated $86 billion in tax revenue.
■ 3 out of 4 domestic trips taken are for leisure purposes (77%).
■ U.S. residents logged 1.5 billion person-trips for leisure purposes in 2011.
■ Top 5 leisure travel activities for U.S. domestic travelers: (1) visiting relatives; (2) shopping; (3) visiting friends; (4) fine dining; and (5) beaches.
BUSINESS TRAVEL
■ Direct spending on business travel by domestic and international travelers, including expenditures on meetings, events and incentive programs (ME&I), totaled $249 billion in 2011.
■ ME&I travel accounted for $99 billion of all business travel spending.
■ U.S. residents logged 458 million person-trips for business purposes in 2011, with more than one-third (36%) for meetings and events.
■ For every dollar invested in business travel, businesses benefit from an average of $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits.
(Person-trip defined as one person trip away from home overnight in paid accommodations or a day or overnight trip 50 miles one-way or more from home.)
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
■ In 2011, international traveler spending (export receipts) totaled $153 billion and travel spending abroad by Americans totaled $110 billion (travel import payments), creating a trade surplus of $43 billion in favor of the U.S.
■ The U.S.received 62.3 million international arrivals in 2011. Of those, approximately 27.9 million were from overseas markets and 34.4 million were from Canada and Mexico.
■ The United States’ share of total international arrivals is 6.4% (down from 7.5% in 2000).
■ International travel spending directly supported about 1.2 million U.S. jobs and wages of $28.5 billion.
■ Each overseas traveler spends approximately $4,300 when they visit the U.S. and stay on average more than 17 nights.
■ Overseas arrivals represent 45% of all international arrivals, yet account for 78% of total international travel receipts.
■ Greatest challenges facing international visitors: burdensome visa process; unwelcoming entry experience.
■ Top 5 leisure travel activities for overseas visitors: (1) shopping; (2) dining; (3) city sightseeing; (4) visiting historical places; and (5) amusement/theme parks.
The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $1.9 trillion in economic output. It is the voice for the collective interests of the U.S. travel industry and the association’s 1,400 member organizations. U.S. Travel’s mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States.
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