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Where are you traveling this year? Are you planning a relaxing exotic vacation or a full itinerary staycation? Either way travel matters, you are helping many people have jobs while you are receiving a lifetime of memories.
Why Travel Matters in Arizona
We pass popular tourist sites like the Lost Dutchman State Park every day; we may not even think of how it supports our community. But the Lost Dutchman State Park and others like Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Catalina State Park, and Kartchner Caverns State Park are the backbones of Arizona.
Travel matters, and it improves Arizona in ways that have a wide-reaching impact on the local residents. Travel supports multiple travel jobs and travel- related attractions, and it also has an impact that we do not always see: travel can strengthen families, foster hometown pride, and build bridges that connect us with one another.
Travel Matters to America
At the national level, travel is critical to the U.S. economy and American jobs. As a leader in workforce development and career advancement–travel creates and supports 15.6 million jobs across the U.S.–making it the seventh-largest private sector employer. In 2017, traveler spending generated $165 billion in total tax revenue, including $76 billion in state and local revenue. That $76 billion can pay for a host of critical resources: it’s more than enough to pay all state and local police and firefighters, or the more than one million public high school teachers, according to US Travel.
Travel is powerful for cities and states, and Arizona is no exception. Think back to your first job. Maybe you worked at Mormon Lake Lodge Steakhouse, or maybe your kids work there now. For many–one-third of Americans to be exact–travel is the front door to a promising career. Americans whose first job in travel have an average career salary of $81,900, and two in 5 of those whose first job was in travel are now earning more than $100,000, according to US Travel.
Think about how travel matters to Joe’s Farm Grill: travel dependent leisure and hospitality is the largest small business employer in the U.S. Those are only a few reasons why it’s so important to keep welcoming visitors to Arizona—and why our industry is elevating the message of “Travel Matters” during National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) May 5-11. We encourage you to join us in observing NTTW this year and celebrate all that travel does for our country as a whole.
Get involved and get social by engaging with the #nttw19 hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Share how travel matters in your community.
U.S. Travel Association
For more great ideas and resources, check out this toolkit from U.S. Travel Association.
This year’s NTTW is more than just another campaign. It’s a movement that positions the travel industry as a primary driver in the U.S. economy, and as an important part of our daily lives in Arizona, and for our country as a whole.
How will you get involved?
Never knew that the travel industry employed so many Americans. I’m all for employment growth. I will look at travel differently from now on.
Me too.
Great info you have shared. I too had no clue that so many jobs came from the travel industry. I was dog sitting this past week and the couple left me free passes to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park. After you had told me about the hiking trail I have wanted to go. I was so excited to get these. Hubby and I are planning a trip there then to Globe to The Burger House were they have amazingly yummy chimichanges.
You always share great information. Thank you!!!
Wonderful, you will love Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park. The plants and colors are amazing. Have a great time.
Missy correction on The Burger House it is in Miami.
Looking forward to your next post!
Thank you for the update!
Per Oprah, I hear travel planners have the best job, it certainly must be the happiest one!
That would be cool.
I love this! I agree that is so important – both for the tourists and the communities.
Yes, keep traveling.
Thanks for Sharing! I love travel, I have not been to AZ expect the airport!
The airport is nice too.
We love going to the Grand Canyon but will make it a point to see more places in Arizona. The state has so much to offer!
Yes, Arizona does.
This is a great article! I never knew how many were employed in this industry. However, sitting back and thinking about it, why wouldn’t there be? Travel is a big industry and more and more seem to be doing it.
You are right.
These are such good points about travel that people don’t usually stop to consider. Let’s all travel more!!
Yes, let’s travel more.
Love this post…tourism is such an economical factor that impacts lives in all communities – large and small
Yes, you are right.
We loved our time traveling in Arizona. We’ve got to go back. They have some great RV boondocking spots!
Awesome, RV boondocking is fun.
We really see the impact of travel in Colorado during the summer. It gets very crowded with out-of-state visitors. Wildfires have a big impact on the industry and drive the numbers down. That’s why I love that it’s snowing out right now, even on May 9th!
Snow in May… I am glad to live in the desert.
Really good information to know how big the travel industry really is.
I was amazed.
I learned a lot of this at the Governor’s Conference here in FL. You know it is a big deal but the numbers are staggering when you hear them for the first time.
That is great that you attended the Governor’s Conference in FL. I trust you learned a lot about your state travel numbers too.
I could really go for a trip to Scottsdale right now! So relaxing and beautiful there!
Yes, it is and the weather has been in the 80’s this past week.
Travel is definitely big.
Yes, it is.
I’ve worked as a guide before and agree. It’s totally important to support that cuz it supports local industries and everything
That is awesome that you were a guide. Where did you guide at?
Love this!! All spending creates more jobs!!
Lets travel!!!
Interesting information. I have never thought about it this way. I will definitely be traveling more to support businesses 😉
Us too!