The Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is promoting the 32nd annual National Travel & Tourism Week, which communities across America celebrate each year to shine a light on what travel means to jobs, economic growth and personal well-being.
“Just look at the numbers. Travel supports 15 million jobs in America, including 301,100 right here in Illinois²,” said Mike Pfeiffer, Group Sales Agent for the AACVB. “May 2 – 10 we are celebrating what travel means to our community, and we call on everyone- from elected officials to local residents- to join us in saluting this important industry.”
Across Illinois, travel employs a prosperous and diverse workforce, from airline and hotel employees, to restaurant, attraction and retail workers, and supports industry sectors such as construction, manufacturing and finance. Some of the numbers:
In 2013 over 301,100 jobs supported by travel & tourism in Illinois (3,310 in just the AACVB portions of DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties).
In 2013 over $2.6 billion in local tax revenue generated in Illinois ($27.8 million in just the AACVB portions of DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties).
llinois tourism saves the average Illinois household $1,300 in taxes each year.
The national figures are equally remarkable:
$2.1 trillion in economic output and $927.9 billion in direct travel-related spending in the U.S. by domestic and international travelers in 2014.
$141.5 billion generated in federal, state and local tax revenues in 2014.
$15 million American jobs supported – 8 million tourism jobs and 7 million indirect and induced jobs – good jobs with good pay that cannot be outsourced.
“I have only worked in the travel industry for 1½ years,” said Pfeiffer. “Even in this short time, I have seen how it has helped the communities of Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Hinckley, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Yorkville immensely because of the tax revenue it generates and the countless businesses and jobs that are touched by the economic activity visitors bring.”
Travel can also have a positive effect on the personal well-being. A recent study by the U.S. Travel Association found that Americans left 429 million vacation days unused (the most in nearly 40 years) and forfeited $52.4 billion in time-off benefits. If workers took just one more day off each year, travel would generate $73 billion annually for the economy.
“Travel contributes to the fabric of America and continues to do wonders for our businesses and personal lives,” said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, the umbrella organization representing the travel industry in the U.S. “This week-long celebration should extend to every day of the week to strengthen further our dynamic industry.”
To learn more about NTTW 2015, please visit www.USTravel.org, www.EnjoyIllinois.com or www.EnjoyAurora.com.