Travel and Tourism Week: Celebrating the #FutureofTravel

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It’s no secret. The past two years have been the hardest the travel and tourism industry has faced.

In Washington state, 2020 saw a 40% decrease in tourism spending, a 24% decrease in industry payroll and a 27% dip in employment.

Prior to the pandemic, for every $1 million spent in Washington by domestic and international travelers, 6.5 jobs were created. A big deal in the state’s eighth-largest workforce. Travel also generated $3 billion in taxes to state and local governments, which help fund jobs and public programs such as police, firefighters, teachers, road projects and convention centers.

Our state data is in line with the rest of the U.S. Prior to the pandemic, the travel industry experienced 10 straight years of growth due to the strength of the domestic leisure travel, domestic business travel and inbound international travel segments. Travel was a significant economic driver in every region of the country, representing one in 10 jobs and generating a travel trade surplus.

While the industry is still digging out, it’s time to move forward. This year, for National Travel and Tourism week, we’re celebrating the #FutureOfTravel.

Travel is an incredibly resilient industry and an essential economic driver, spurring growth for businesses and communities across our country.

The future of travel is more sustainable, more inclusive, more globally competitive and it’s driven by all of us.

Cheers to many great years ahead to every destination we support and beyond.