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NEW IBERIA, La. --- The Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau (IPCVB), the destination marketing organization for Iberia Parish, will observe National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) from May 7-13, 2023.
NTTW, the annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight the essential role that travel will play in driving economic growth and innovation through the theme #TravelForward.
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 $2.6 trillion economic output in 2022 and supported 15 million jobs, fueling communities, small businesses and working families across the country.
Travel spending also generated nearly $160 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022—revenue that helped fund critical public services while saving each U.S. household an average of $1,270 in taxes.
IPCVB is celebrating travel’s promising future by highlighting Iberia's Faces of Travel, our area's travel and hospitality employees and volunteers, on its social media platforms. To meet Iberia's Faces of Travel, visit IberiaTravel.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
In 2021, visitors spent $47.47 million in Iberia Parish, generating $3.67 million in state tax revenue and $1.86 million in local tax revenue, according to the Spending in Louisiana Parishes Report by the University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center.
“Travel is at the heart of Iberia Parish, powering a strong U.S economy, creating jobs and strengthening our community’s culture and identity," said Mike Tarantino, Executive Director. "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.”
Current tourism developments include Mayor Freddie Decourt's masterplan and new business ventures in downtown New Iberia, the new Acadian Odyssey Monument in Loreauville and more.
IPCVB worked with St. Landry, St. Martin and St. Mary parish tourism bureaus to obtain a national designation by the federal Highway Administration for the Bayou Teche National Scenic Byway. The bureau also strives to help Iberia Parish bounce back stronger by promoting the destination through marketing programs and working with journalists to maintain a strong media presence, with recent mentions on CNN, Fox News, Southern Living, The Reader's Digest, Travel + Leisure, and Eat This Not That.
About National Travel and Tourism Week
Celebrated annually the first full week in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the economic power of travel in the U.S. The 40th annual NTTW arrives as the industry looks ahead to future growth and success following the challenges of the past two years.
“The travel industry fuels every industry—our industry’s success is the nation’s success,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “This week is a prime opportunity to elevate the message that travel is essential to moving America’s economy forward.”
For more information, please contact Brittany Racca by email or (337) 365-1540.
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