CARSON
CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT) will celebrate National
Tourism Week, May 8-16, by honoring Nevadans in the travel industry on its
Facebook page, Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki announced today.
“There
are many events around the country devised to shine the light on the faces of
tourism during National Tourism Week,” Krolicki, NCOT chair, said. “We will
gather our industry online where untold numbers of viewers will be able to see
the people who serve on the front lines of tourism every day. There is no
better way to observe this annual event than to honor these people in a public
way.”
Tourism
is Nevada’s No. 1 industry, employing about 455,500 Nevadans and worth $54.1
billion to the state's economy. Every employee in every restaurant, hotel, gift
shop, transportation company, airline, museum and special event can count himself
or herself a part of the vast industry that drives Nevada’s economy.
“Today,
we stand up for travel,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel
Association, the nation's largest travel and tourism industry trade
organization. “Travel is one of the country’s biggest employers with more than
10 million Americans depending on this industry for their paychecks. Everyday
travel powers our economy in cities and states across the country.”
NCOT
has a strong online presence and is using its digital resources to recognize
tourism employees all across the state. Throughout the week of May 8-16, NCOT’s
Facebook page (www.facebook.com/travelnevada)
will be devoted to highlighting those employees.
“This
is a way of tipping our hat to outstanding individuals who help build and
sustain Nevada's tourism industry, which generates so much to our great state,”
NCOT Director Dann Lewis said. “We want their friends, family and co-workers to
see them recognized and we invite everyone to visit the website.”
The
U.S. Travel Association reports that travel and tourism is one of America’s
largest industries. Direct spending by domestic and international travelers
generated $704 billion in the nation’s economy last year. Though the travel
workforce has declined as a result of the prolonged recession, the industry
expects to add 90,000 new American jobs because of modest gains in travel
expected in 2010. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org.
To find out more about Nevada, visit www.travelnevada.com.