National Travel and Tourism Week 2019, the 36th annual celebration of the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry, will take place on May 5-11, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
This year’s theme is “Travel Matters,” a recognition of the innumerable ways in which travel enriches lives and strengthens communities. Each day of NTTW will spotlight a different example of why travel matters to America.
First established in 1983, the annual tradition shines a spotlight on the unique contributions tourism generates to local economies in terms of direct spending, taxes and job creation.
In 2017, nearly 29 million domestic and international visitors spent $22.86 billion in the Commonwealth, a 4.8% increase over 2016. This direct spending generated $1.5 billion in combined state and local taxes, an increase of 4.4% from 2016, according to Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT).
In addition to economic benefits, tourism strengthens the cohesiveness of communities, by showcasing important cultural treasures such as museums, performing arts, culinary programs, shopping and outdoor recreation. And it creates awareness about Massachusetts’ vibrant ethnic communities, college campuses, maritime industry and agricultural riches.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) is the primary state agency and works with international and domestic partners to promote the state as a year round destination. It also partners with BrandUSA and Discover New England to reach foreign markets around the world.
Massachusetts has 16 regional tourism councils (RTCs) across the Commonwealth that promote tourism year round to both leisure and business travelers.
Other key partners in promoting tourism include the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), which brings in hundreds of professional conventions and conferences each year, and Massport, which operates Logan International Airport, which has 54 direct international flights and 75 direct domestic flights.