By
Kayla Woods
Posted 15 days ago
For California’s tourism industry, May is an opportunity to show communities throughout the Golden State just how much travel truly powers California.
In 2016, the California Legislature declared May is officially California Tourism Month, spotlighting tourism’s role as an economic powerhouse. Unlike any other industry, tourism uniquely touches every community throughout the state — from California's biggest gateways to its most tucked-away locales. And to celebrate all that has been accomplished and to tell the state’s tourism story, Visit California has planned a full slate of events for the month.
Take a look at how Visit California plans to celebrate California Tourism Month and how you can get involved:
New Travel Impacts Report
The cornerstone of California Tourism Month is the release of Visit California’s annual Travel Impacts Report. President & CEO Caroline Beteta teased the report’s preliminary findings at 2018 Outlook Forum, which highlighted the eighth consecutive year of growth for California’s tourism industry since the Great Recession.
Visit California is excited to share the full report during the first full week of May and welcome this new era of prosperity for both the industry and state. Spreading the report’s key trends and findings throughout the month will further demonstrate the industry’s ability to generate community benefits and economic value for all Californians.
Get involved with #CATourism Month
Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for a Visit California industry toolkit to leverage California Tourism Month at the local level.
The toolkit will include talking points, a sample press release, social media posts, and everything industry partners need to activate a grassroots campaign around the transformative power of California’s tourism industry.
National Travel and Tourism Week: May 6-12
The U.S. Travel Association’s National Travel and Tourism Week is a weeklong tradition for the U.S. travel community to celebrate the value travel holds for the economy, businesses and personal well-being.
This year’s celebration marks the 35th anniversary of the 1983 congressional resolution that established NTTW — and it’s all about celebrating the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel community over the course of the last several decades through a "then and now" lens.
As part of the campaign, U.S. Travel is releasing a comprehensive toolkit to help partners and stakeholders spread that message. Included in these resources are tips to host a successful Travel Rally Day, talking points for media and elected officials, and sample social media posts. For more information, take a look at U.S. Travel’s toolkit here.
State Capitol Installation
During the week of May 21, tourism’s value will be on full display in Sacramento at the State Capitol through a visual installation. The 60-foot installation on a wall next to the Governor’s Office will showcase the state’s diverse tourism regions and celebrate all the ways the tourism industry contributes to a prosperous California.
If you have any questions about Visit California’s plans for California Tourism Month or would like to learn more ways to get involved, contact Public Affairs Manager Kayla Woods at kwoods@visitcalifornia.com.
