| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LINCOLN, Neb. (May 7, 2018) — This week, the Nebraska Tourism Commission is celebrating the 35thannual National Travel and Tourism Week (May 6-12). NTTW unites communities across the country to celebrate the value travel holds for our economy, businesses and personal well-being.
“Travel supports one in nine American jobs, including 49,360 right here in Nebraska,” said John Ricks, Nebraska Tourism Commission executive director. “This week, we are celebrating what travel means to our community. We’re calling on everyone—from elected officials to local residents—to join us in saluting this important industry.”
The theme of this year’s NTTW, “Travel Then and Now,” highlights the travel industry’s history of economic impact in every corner of America, and its enduring ethos of welcoming travelers from near and far. Follow @VisitNebraska on Facebook and @NebraskaTourism on Twitter to see throwback pictures of Nebraska tourism destinations throughout the week.
As Nebraska’s third largest industry, tourism is an essential economic driver and job creator in the state. According to The U.S. Travel Association, in 2016, domestic and international travelers to Nebraska spent $4.9 billion and generated $731.5 million to federal, state and local governments.
In addition to its benefits for the local economy, travel can also have a positive effect on personal well-being for residents and visitors of Nebraska. Numerous research studies have confirmed the positive health effects of travel and time off, from reducing the risk of heart disease to decreasing depression. Using time off to travel with family is good for everyone, especially our children—kids who travel with their families are more likely to attend college and earn more as adults.
“Many aspects of the U.S. travel experience may have changed over the years, but one thing hasn’t: our industry’s enduring ethos of welcoming travelers from near and far,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, the umbrella organization representing the U.S. travel industry. “Whether we’re talking about 1968 or 2018, welcoming visitors allows our industry to create travel jobs that have been a gateway to the middle class for millions—and they’re completely non-exportable, no matter how much the global economy changes. This National Travel and Tourism Week, we’re saluting travel’s long history as an economic engine in our country.”
The schedule of events for this week can be found here. Share your travel experiences on social media this week by using #nttw18 or #visitnebraska. Learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week 2018here. |
