Established in 1983 by President Reagan, National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is the annual salute to travel in America. During the first full week in May, communities nationwide unite around a common theme to showcase travel’s contributions to the economy and American jobs.

The theme of this year’s National Travel and Tourism Week, “Travel Matters,” highlights the innumerable ways in which travel makes up the fabric of Brownwood/Brown County’s culture and economy. Each day of NTTW will celebrate a different facet of travel: the economy, new experiences, jobs, infrastructure, health benefits, hometown pride and how travel strengthens families.

“If you look at the numbers, you will see travel supports one in nine American jobs, including 690 jobs right here in Brown County,” said Sunni Modawell, Executive Director for the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. “This week, we are celebrating travel’s powerful impact on our community. We’re calling on everyone—from elected officials to all of our local friends and neighbors—to join us in saluting this important industry, and to support pro-travel legislation at the local, state and national level.”

“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.”