Massachusetts joins the other 49 states across the nation and the US Travel Association (USTA), in celebrating  National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), an annual tradition for the U.S. travel community taking place the first week of May.

This year ,the  NTTW theme is the Power of Travel and the industry’s role in bringing back our vibrant communities, restoring the U.S. economy, rebuilding our workforce and reconnecting America.

Massachusetts has 16 regional tourism councils that represent their localities and promote all of the assets in that area, including natural beauty and outdoors, food and cuisine, arts and culture and history and heritage.

Travel officials are urging regional tourism councils (RTCs), destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and other hospitality outlets, family small businesses and seasonal visitor shops to remind ts customers of the power of travel as a key contributor to the Massachusetts economy.

For more about visiting Massachusetts go to Visitma.com.