Agenda - 05-01-2008-3b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Background on the History of National Tourism Week The 2008 Celebration and Message: The 25th Annual National Tourism Week is sponsored by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) and will be celebrated May 10-18, 2008. The nine-day recognition provides cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide the opportunity to collectively champion the power of travel. The theme-"Discover Great American Traditions"-encourages travel to American locales and highlights the role that tourism plays in discovering the icons of a destination. "From baseball games and Broadway shows to `The Great American Road Trip,' our collective memories are filled with places and activities traditionally associated with travel," said Roger J. Dow, President and CEO of TIA. "For our 25th celebration of National Tourism Week, TIA is presenting cities and states with a theme and resources to help them interpret and celebrate the defining assets of their destinations." Travel and Tourism nationally is a $740 billion industry with 7.5 million direct travel- generatedjobs in 2006. The History: National Tourism Week was established in 1983, when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating the week to be celebrated in May 1984. In a White House Ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with "the appropriate ceremonies and activities." Industry leaders and public relations professionals from the major travel and tourism trade associations were the first volunteers to manage the annual event. By 1986 industry leaders had formed a permanent coalition, which later became the Tourism Works for America Council. They opened a full time office and expanded the concept into ayear- round tourism awareness program. By then hundreds of communities across the nation were participating in the celebration and more participate each year. In 1998, the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) accepted responsibility for and absorbed all Tourism Works for America activities. -Today this premier public advocacy program represents the single TIA. activity that helps both members and non-members push tourism awareness to its most basic level-the grassroots. In Orange County: The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board is again looking to increase awareness of the impact of tourism with local residents through a National Tourism Week Promotion. The plan includes requesting the Orange County Board of Commissioners to proclaim the week of May 10-18, 2008 as National Tourism Week.. The Bureau will participate in a Tourism Legislative Day in Raleigh on May 13. We will send media releases promoting the impact of visitors on our area and to encourage local residents to be tourists in Orange County and discover our great tourism traditions. Our www.visitchapelhill.or~ website will highlight Tourism Week. Finally, the Visitors Center at 501 W. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill will. display a banner for tourism week and distribute postcards.