Rallies in support of travel & tourism industry as National Travel and Tourism Week begins

By AAA of Western and Central New York

It’s the 36th annual National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), and AAA Western and Central New York is celebrating how travel powers our economies, strengthens our communities and changes our lives.

The theme of this year’s NTTW, “Travel Matters,” highlights the innumerable ways in which travel makes up the fabric of AAA WCNY’s culture and economy. Each day of NTTW will celebrate a different facet of travel: the economy, new experiences, jobs, infrastructure, health benefits, hometown pride and how travel strengthens families.

“Travel supports one in nine American jobs,” said Carol DiOrio, vice president of travel at AAA WCNY. “This week, we are celebrating travel’s powerful impact on our community. We’re calling on everyone – from elected officials to all of our local friends and neighbors – to join us in saluting this important industry, and to support pro-travel legislation at the local, state and national level.”

“In every pocket of America – from the largest cities to the smallest towns – travel matters,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow.

From Buffalo to Syracuse, up to Watertown and down to Ithaca (and so many wonderful spaces in between), travel employs a diverse workforce. Consider this:

•Travel is a $2.5 trillion industry in the U.S.

•Travel supports 15.7 million American jobs – roughly 8.9 million direct travel jobs, and 6.8 million indirect jobs.

•Travel-related spending generated $171 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue in 2018.

Travel is healthy for the economy and for travelers themselves! There are real health benefits to leaving behind our 9-to-5 workday lives. Those who travel using all or most of their vacation time end up being 56% happier with their health and well-being than those who use the least amount of their vacation days to travel. Taking time off to be more active, breathe fresh air, experience new things and to pamper yourself can help you de-stress and recharge. Even just planning a trip can keep you motivated and upbeat by giving you something to look forward to.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 880,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.