May 7-13 is National Travel & Tourism Week
Morgan County set to celebrate local tourism.
Martinsville, Ind. – National Travel and Tourism Week is scheduled for May 7-13, 2017. This annual week-long celebration was first observed in 1983 when it was created by a Congressional resolution. The event serves to champion the power of the travel and tourism industry both nationally and locally, helping to promote the impactful economic contributions of the industry. This year’s theme is the “Faces of Travel.”
Nationally, tourism is one of the largest industries in the U.S., generating $2.3 trillion each year and supporting 15.3 million jobs. One in every nine American jobs is tourism-related. Tourism is also an important part of the economy in Indiana, where 77 million visitors spend more than $11 billion each year. The tenth largest industry in the state, tourism accounts for more than 152,240 jobs across Indiana, many of them in small businesses. In fact, if travelers stopped visiting Indiana, each household in the state would have to pay nearly $550 in additional taxes to make up the difference in state and local tax revenues.
Here in Morgan County, visitors spend about $23 million each year and support more than 420 local jobs. Of every dollar spent in Morgan County by visitors, 71 cents stays in the local economy. That’s new money added to our local economy that wasn’t here before, helping to grow our local businesses with minimal impact on local infrastructure and services.
Learn more about how tourism impacts Morgan County and the impact tourism can have in small towns at an upcoming Community Conversation, co-hosted by Visit Morgan County, the Martinsville Chamber of Commerce and Launch Martinsville. The conversation will take place on Thursday, May 11 at 11 am at The Main Connection, 460 S. Main Street. After a brief presentation, entitled "How Small Towns Benefit From Tourism... and How YOU Can Help!" participants will be invited to share their thoughts and ideas about tourism in Morgan County.
Visit Morgan County is also gearing up to invite area residents to Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard, by getting out to meet our own local Faces of Travel! By exploring the attractions and experiences available right here in Morgan County, residents can have fun, enjoy many of the benefits of traveling, and become better ambassadors for their community all at the same time. Local “tourists” are invited to explore visitmorgancountyin.com for upcoming event information and other great ideas for things to do right here in Morgan County.
Residents are invited to stop by the Visitors Center at 109 E. Morgan Street during business hours, where they’ll find information on local attractions as well as information about attractions and upcoming events across the state. A few lucky locals will be randomly chosen to receive a FREE drink from the new JK’s Coffee Bar during National Tourism Week, courtesy of Visit Morgan County. The new coffee bar is located inside The Main Connection at 460 S. Main Street in Martinsville, along with the Visitors Center, offering visitors a convenient place for refreshments as they learn more about the area.
Visit Morgan County is also partnering with the Morgan County Farmers Market during Tourism Week - on May 9 in Mooresville and May 13 in Martinsville, the first several customers to stop at the Farmers Market information booth will receive Visit Morgan County tote bags filled with information about fun things to do around the county and the state. (They’re also handy for carrying home your Farmers Market purchases!)
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Visit Morgan County promotes all of Morgan County as a travel destination in order to
grow the economic impact of the tourism industry and support local business.
