The proclamations were presented to the elected officials for signatures last week by Newton County Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Atkinson and Vice President/Tourism Director Donnie Crain.
Travel matters to the nation’s economic prosperity and its image abroad.
For business and other interests, travel to and within the United States generated $1.9 trillion in economic output in 2011, with $813 billion spent directly by travelers that spurred an additional $1.1 trillion in other industries.
Travel is among the largest private-sector employers in the United States, supporting 14.4 million jobs in 2011. Of those jobs, 7.5 million were in the travel industry and 6.9 million in other industries.
Travelers spending generated $124 billion in tax revenues for federal, state and local governments.
In Newton County, travelers’ expenditures in 2012 amounted to $11.9 million. The industry employed 138 residents and generated over $1 million in state and local taxes.
The officials agreed that travel is a catalyst that moves the Newton County economy forward and contributes greatly to the excellent quality of life enjoyed by the county’s residents.