National Travel and Tourism Week

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW)! The annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry spotlights the essential role that travel plays in driving economic growth and innovation. This year's theme is #TravelForward.

Established in 1983, NTTW is an annual tradition to mark the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, stimulating business activity and elevating the quality of life for everyday Americans.

Travel serves as a catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps power the success of other industries. The U.S. travel industry generated a $2.6 trillion economic output in 2022 and supported 15 million jobs, fueling communities, small businesses and working families across the country.

In the Heritage Corridor, the travel industry creates 10,800+ jobs, $72.4 million in state taxes, and $43.3 million in local taxes. In fact, tourism in Illinois saves the average household $1,000 in taxes each year!

Travel is at the heart of Heritage Corridor Destinations, powering strong economies, creating jobs and strengthening our communities' cultures and identities in the I&M Canal Towns, Starved Rock Country, and along The First Hundred Miles of Route 66.

This National Travel and Tourism Week, we are proud to celebrate all that travel does for us now, and all that it will contribute in the future.