Media Contact: Ryan Smith
(919) 744-8556; rsmith@visitraleigh.com
GREATER RALEIGH CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU CELEBRATES
25TH ANNUAL NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK
Silver anniversary theme encourages travelers to "Discover Great American Traditions"
Raleigh, N.C. (May 12, 2008) - The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau joins hundreds of cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide in recognition of the 25th Annual National Tourism Week, to be held May 10-18. In conjunction with National Tourism Week, North Carolina is celebrating with National Tourism Day, May 13 with activities throughout downtown Raleigh. Designated by Congress and established by presidential proclamation in 1983, the event celebrates the value and scope of the nation's $740 billion travel and tourism industry, and the economic and social contributions it brings to Greater Raleigh.
This year's theme, "Discover Great American Traditions," encourages travel to American locales and highlights the role that tourism plays in discovering the icons of a destination.
"Hotels and meeting facilities, attractions, restaurants and transportation providers are among the local businesses greatly impacted by travel to the Raleigh area," said Denny Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. "In Wake County the industry employs more than 18,000 people, generated $1.3 million in direct visitor spending and generated an estimated $103 million in state and local tax revenue in 2006."
North Carolina's National Tourism Day Celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. in downtown Raleigh's Legislative Building with exhibits and demonstrations from attractions and destinations from across the state. Lawmakers and state leaders will have the chance to meet with tourism industry leaders throughout the day. In addition to the displays inside the Legislative Building, Visit Charlotte is coordinating NASCAR House vs. Senate Pit Crew Challenge at 2 p.m. in front of the N.C. Museum of Natural Science on Jones Street.
Nationwide, the U.S. travel industry directly employees 7.5 million people, generates payroll of $178 billion and tax revenues of about $110 billion. TIA ranks travel fifth among 20 major private industry sectors. Visitors to the U.S. spent more here than U.S. residents traveling abroad, creating a positive balance of trade of $8.3 billion for the national economy. Travel expenditures within the United States total $740 billion.
National Tourism Week is sponsored annually by the Travel Industry Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents the common interests and concerns of travel in America.
The Greater Raleigh CVB is a non-profit agency that promotes Raleigh and Wake County to enhance the economic growth and development of Raleigh and Wake County by increasing visitor and convention business.
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