News Release
25TH ANNUAL NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK CHAMPIONS NATION’S $740 BILLION TRAVEL INDUSTRY: Silver Anniversary Theme Encourages Travelers to “Discover Great American Traditions”
May 15, 2008 – Anchorage, Alaska –The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau joins hundreds of cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide in recognition of the 25th annual National Tourism Week by wearing the color red today, May 15, 2008.
Designated by Congress and established by presidential proclamation in 1983, National Tourism Week acknowledges the value and scope of the nation’s $740 billion travel and tourism industry.
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.
“Tourism is Alaska’s second largest private sector industry,” says Julie Saupe, ACVB president and CEO. “Bed tax collections for the city exceeded $20 million and the total leisure travel market had a citywide economic impact of more than $150 million last year. The ripple effect of the tourism dollar is felt in every sector of the Anchorage economy and is essential to its growth.”
The Travel Industry Association (TIA), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents the common interests and concerns of travel in America, sponsors National Tourism Week annually.
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.
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net
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Media Contacts:
Shelly Wozniak
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
swozinak@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
