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May 19 - 25, 2024

National Travel and Tourism Week

Every year we use National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) to highlight our industry’s undeniable impact on Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods. We’re celebrating #NTTW24 and what travel means to us – from our communities to our jobs to our economy - travel touches and improves it all.

National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) was established in 1983 by the U.S. Travel Association to celebrate the U.S. travel community and its essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating job opportunities, inspiring new businesses and elevating the quality of life.

In 2023, U.S. travel spending generated $89 billion in state and local taxes to support education, emergency response, public safety and more. Nationally, the 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 Lee County, tourism generated $2.9 billion in economic impact in 2023, supporting more than 48,000 jobs and generating $1.5 billion in wages and salaries. Visitor spending also saves local residents $1,004 per household in state and local taxes.

Follow along on our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn social channels to see just how impactful the travel and tourism industry is on Lee County.

2023 Value of Tourism Infographic

For the printable version, click here

Value of Tourism
Value of Tourism pg2

What We Do

Enhances community and volunteer relations for a positive tourism experience.

Promotes our area to meeting professionals, the travel trade, and leisure visitors to increase visitor volume.

The three funding programs supported are Beach & Shoreline, Events Marketing, and Arts & Attractions Marketing.

Find out what's happening in Lee County.

Sign up for our Summer sessions, today!

View our 2 influencer campaigns from 2023.

Sand Dollar Sense

See how tourism dollars effect Lee County residents and play a vital role in our local economy.

Value of Tourism

Tourism is the Backbone of Our Economy

The travel and tourism industry is one of the United States’ largest industries, generating $1.9 trillion in travel expenditures this past year.

Closer to home, tourism is one of the largest economic industries in Florida, with 137.6 million travelers visiting the Sunshine State in 2022. During their time here, visitors generated more than $96.5 billion in taxable sales. That amount of spending generated $5.8 billion in tax-related revenue to the state of Florida, which is spent on public necessities such as schools, transportation, museums and enhancing Florida’s offerings to entice even more visitors.

Here in Lee County, tourism employs 1 out of every 5 people. We receive nearly 4.5 million visitors a year that spend more than $4 billion while in our area.

Not only do we benefit from the economic impact of the industry in dollars and cents, but we also benefit from the quality of life to which it contributes. In essence, tourism is a tool for enhancing what we love about our region - from its ecological wonders to its history and culture.

 

Value of Tourism Infographics