Visit Wichita is joining hundreds of Destination Marketing Organizations across the U.S. to celebrate the powerful impact of travel on local economies during National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), May 19-25. Now in its 41st year, NTTW recognizes the contributions of the U.S. travel industry and in 2024 is putting a spotlight on the way travel drives economic growth, cultivates vibrant communities and enriches the lives of Americans nationwide.
Celebrated annually in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to mark the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, stimulating business activity and elevating the quality of life for everyday Americans.
Travel serves as a catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps power the success of other industries. The U.S. travel industry generated a $2.8 trillion economic output in 2023 and supported 15 million jobs, fueling communities, small businesses and working families across the country.
In 2023, Wichita hosted 416 meetings, conventions and events resulting in $53.6 million economic impact. Additionally, conventions, sports and meeting planners confirmed more than 44,000 future hotel room nights with more than $16 million economic impact.
Future meetings, conventions and sports events won in 2023 include:
- NAIA Wrestling National Championships — held in March 2024
- NCAA DII Wrestling National Championships — held in March 2024
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 75th Eighth District Meeting — held in April 2024
- USA Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates National Championships — held in April 2024
- South Central Chapter of American Association of Airport Executives, Annual Conference — May 2024
- Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Softball 2024 AUX Competition — June 2024
- USA Boxing National Junior Olympics — June 2024
- US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup — July 2024
- Northstar Travel Group, Destination Midwest — August 2024
- S.P.O.R.T.S. the Relationship Conference — October 2024
- NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Championship First/ Second Rounds — March 2025
- BG Products, Zones 3 & 6 Conference — April 2025
“Travel is at the heart of Visit Wichita, powering a strong U.S. economy, creating jobs and strengthening our community’s culture and identity,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO at Visit Wichita. “This National Travel and Tourism Week, we are proud to celebrate all that travel does for our community now, and all that it will contribute in the future.”
Please visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week.
