The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. This National Travel and Tourism Week honors the spirit of travel in recognition of the industry’s strength, selflessness and resiliency. Localized events are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel. It was established as National Tourism Week when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1983 designating the week to be celebrated in May. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with "the appropriate ceremonies and activities."
Since its establishment, 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.
We come together during #nttw20 to support each other and remind our country that even through the most difficult times, the #SpiritOfTravel cannot be broken.
Why Tourism Matters
Tourism in Chesapeake, Virginia
Tourism brings in more than $386 million to Chesapeake and delivers over $31.2 million in state and local tax revenues.
Visitors to Chesapeake directly support over 3,400 local jobs.
The jobs supported by visitors produce earnings of $73.1 million.
With over 4,400 rooms in over 46 hotels, Chesapeake sold over 1.1 million room nights throughout the year.
Tourism in Virginia and the United States
More than 234,000 Virginia jobs are supported directly by travel spending with earnings of more than $6 billion.
Domestic travel and tourism in Virginia resulted in $3.4 billion in tax revenue.
Tourism in the United States saves every household more than $1,300 in taxes yearly.
Direct travel spending in the United States totaled $1,089 billion into our economy in 2018.
*From US Travel Association and Virginia Tourism, FY19 data.
