In conjunction with the 36th Annual National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW/#NTTW19) spearheaded by the U.S. Travel Association, Visit Albuquerque is joining destinations and communities across the country to celebrate how travel matters to American jobs, economic growth and personal well-being.
The theme of this year’s NTTW, “Travel Matters,” highlights the innumerable ways that travel makes up the fabric of Albuquerque’s culture and economy. Beginning this past Sunday, each day of NTTW celebrates a different facet of travel: the economy, new experiences, jobs, infrastructure, health benefits, hometown pride, and how travel strengthens families.
“Travel matters to Albuquerque and is one of the city’s most effective economic development strategies,” said Tania Armenta, President & CEO of Visit Albuquerque. “Travel also represents one in nine employed Americans, including more than 44,000 right here in Albuquerque—the highest employment ever for the industry. As one of our city’s largest private industries, I’ve seen firsthand how much travel matters to our community. We are proud of the impact travel and tourism has on Albuquerque, and eager to build on this positive momentum by continuing to welcome even more visitors to the heart of New Mexico.”
“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. “I, like so many others, got my start in the travel industry, and it shaped my life in ways I could have never imagined. This National Travel and Tourism Week, we’re celebrating how travel powers our economies, strengthens our communities, and changes our lives.”
From mom-and-pop restaurants to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, travel employs a diverse workforce in Albuquerque and has a significant impact on the economy:
- Over 44,000 people are employed by the travel and tourism industry in Albuquerque.
- Travel brings more than 6.2 million visitors to the city each year, which generates about $69 million in local tax revenue for the community.
- As one of Albuquerque’s largest private industries, travel generates more than $2 billion annually.
These local figures are an important part of travel’s economic importance nationwide:
- Travel is a $2.5 trillion industry in the U.S.
- These visitors support 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.
.jpg){kind=tracking}