May 12, 2009

Tourism Makes Me Smile/National Travel and Tourism Week Rally Shows Why “Travel Matters” to Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. – Highlighted by the tagline “Travel Matters,” today the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando/Orange County CVB) kicked off Tourism Makes Me Smile/National Travel and Tourism Week with a rally at the Downtown Orlando Visitors Center to show firsthand how travel benefits Central Florida.

“Travel and tourism plays a key role in the Central Florida economy, to the tune of over $30 billion a year,” said Gary Sain, president and CEO of the Orlando/Orange County CVB. “Our community relies on travel for tax revenue and jobs and the benefits these bring to our economy. With today’s event we hope to raise awareness and showcase why travel matters to Central Florida.”

The rally, held at the Downtown Orlando Visitors Center, included appearances by several of Orlando’s most well-known theme park characters, as well as performers from Pirates Dinner Adventure, Gatorland, SeaWorld Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort and more. The rally/celebration brought Orlando’s tourism industry into the heart of downtown Orlando.

With business, meetings and event travel facing steep declines across America, nationwide events throughout National Travel and Tourism Week emphasized the economic benefits travel and tourism brings to local workers and communities and demonstrates the importance of travel. This event is part of a larger effort led by the U.S. Travel Association with rallies in dozens of cities nationwide.

In Central Florida the travel industry employs close to 400,000 and contributes over $30 billion to the economy. Travel industry employees include everyone from hotel employees and restaurant workers to cab drivers and meetings planners who serve visitors to Orlando.

“My business has grown exponentially because of my involvement in Orlando’s tourism industry,” said Charles Keila, owner of Keila Glassworks in downtown Orlando. “As an artist and teacher I’ve grown my business through my working with the CVB and the industry. Now we are expanding and I look forward to the success of the industry in Orlando.”

Travel and tourism is one of America’s largest industries, with $740 billion in direct travel expenditures by domestic and international travelers. The industry also represents one of America’s largest employers with 7.7 million direct travel-generated jobs and $189 billion in travel-generated payroll. However, according to U.S. Labor Department data, the U.S. Travel Association reported a loss of nearly 200,000 travel related jobs in 2008 and predicts a loss of an additional 247,000 travel-generated jobs in 2009.

“Locally, sales taxes collected from travelers that visit Central Florida funds some of our most essential public services,” said Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty. “The travel industry is facing tough times, but it’s important for people to understand the key role travel can play in helping to solve our economic challenges on both the local and national level. Travel is King in Central Florida.”