National Tourism Day is a holiday observed annually in the U.S. on May 7th. It is strategically placed during National Travel and Tourism Week and aims to recognize the importance of tourism to the country’s culture and economy. It also celebrates the opportunities tourism provides to learn about different ways of living, cultures, and cuisines.

This is the perfect day for people who have been waiting to take a trip to go ahead and book that trip. It is not only good for the economy, but it is also likely to be a mind-broadening experience for the traveler.

The History of National Tourism Day

The origins of this holiday are easy to trace. It was created by a Presidential Proclamation in May 1983. This proclamation was issued by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who signed it to urge all citizens to celebrate the day.

As stated in our introductory statement, the purpose of this holiday was not only to support the tourism industry and highlight its importance to the U.S. economy but also to inform people that taking a trip is a way for them to broaden their horizons in new and often unforeseeable ways. This holiday has been observed annually ever since.

Fun Facts About Tourism

Below are some fun facts about tourism that we would like to share with all of our readers. We uncovered these facts while researching this holiday and felt they would contribute to the discussion of this day. Now that we’ve stated our intentions, let’s share these factoids.

• In 2019, the World Tourism Organization estimated that the number of international tourists reached 1.5 billion people.
• It has been estimated that one out of every eleven people in the world is employed in the tourism sector.
• Tourism is responsible for approximately 5% of the world’s GDP.
• The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating effect on the global tourism industry as many countries closed their borders.
• Some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world include Spain, France, China, Italy, and the United States.

Observing National Tourism Day

This holiday is best observed by planning a trip or embarking on one. It doesn’t matter if the trip is by train, car, or plane. All that matters is that people visit somewhere they have always wanted to go but haven’t had the chance to do so. We also encourage people to spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #NationalTourismDay on social media.