National Travel and Tourism Week runs from May 19th to May 25th. Started by the U.S. Travel Association in 1983, the week celebrates the role travel plays in the economy, job creation, promoting peace, and personal enrichment.
The travel and tourism industry is a $2.6 trillion industry that supports nearly 15 million U.S. jobs while also fueling other vital supporting industries. It also has a big impact on the local economy.
Preliminary data for 2023 shows that in Yakima County, visitors generated $397 million in spending, supported 5,142 jobs for local residents, and generated approximately $51 million in state and local taxes. The tourism tax saves each household in Yakima County $455 in taxes while supporting the essential services we all enjoy and need, including public safety, roads, parks, and education.
Tourism enables every industry, including manufacturing, agriculture, health care, and more, to succeed by driving sales growth, innovation, education, and operations that drive the economy.
When conferences, conventions, and sports tournaments are held in communities like Yakima, attendees not only contribute to the local economy with their spending, but also get a first-hand look at other destinations in the area. Because of these opportunities, people may consider the places they visit as new business possibilities or migration possibilities.
Small businesses account for more than 60% of leisure and hospitality jobs. Most tourism businesses are locally based and owned. They are part of the very fabric of each community, including our own. Visitors prefer to experience the authenticity and uniqueness of the places they visit, which in turn contributes economically to the maintenance of local facilities, traditions, culture and events.
Tourism businesses rely on a variety of supporting industries to succeed and benefit indirectly from tourist spending. Examples include a dry cleaner who cleans hotel linens, a farmer who provides produce to a restaurant, a carpenter who performs repairs at a retail store, and a mechanic who repairs campers. The list goes on.
Thoughtful travel not only generates economic benefits, but also helps shape a better world. When people travel, they discover new places and cultures, which leads to a greater understanding of other points of view. Simply put, travel has the potential to be a force for positive social change.
Perhaps the greatest value of travel is what it can do for individuals. Travel opens the door to new experiences that enrich and rejuvenate you. When we go beyond everyday life, we test our skills and coping abilities that may arise while traveling. Stepping into the unknown, even if it’s something as simple as checking train schedules or calculating exchange rates, can foster growth and resilience.
Similarly, planning a trip can be just as fun as taking the trip. And for those who are going through difficult times, loss or grief, running away can provide comfort and perspective, helping them find the strength to move forward and get back on their feet.
Ultimately, travel can be a transformative, lifelong journey that enriches travelers with memories, knowledge, and a deeper appreciation of the world.
In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, take a trip and explore. I leave you with these words from celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain: As you go through this life and this world, you change things a little and leave a mark, even if it’s a small one. And in return, life and travel leave an imprint on you. ”
John Cooper is president and CEO of Yakima Valley Tourism.
