By MARY KITTRELL
Executive Director, Kosciusko County Convention And Visitors Bureau

Tourism is big business in Indiana and the Indiana’s Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau is joining with hundreds of cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide to recognize the power of the tourism industry with National Travel & Tourism Week, May 4 – 8, 2015.

The event, sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association, celebrates the value and scope of the nation’s $759 billion travel and tourism industry, and its economic and social contributions, and aims to inform the public of the cultural and social benefits of travel and tourism.

According to a recent Certec Study, travel and tourism generates $56.2 million in direct spending and brings in approximately 1 million visitors each year, while providing more than 1,700 jobs in Kosciusko County.

National Travel & Tourism Week Events

In celebrating the industry and its impact on the community, we have scheduled events and promotions during National Travel & Tourism Week.

Beginning Monday, May 4 live radio remotes will be held in one of our towns each day through Friday. Each day we will celebrate our towns and the contribution they make to the tourism industry in the county.

Schedule is:

• Monday, Mentone
• Tuesday, Syracuse
• Wednesday, North Webster
• Thursday, Pierceton
• Friday the remote will be held at the Visitor Center located in Warsaw.

We will also be hosting an Open House at the Visitor Center, 111 Capital Drive, Warsaw (just west of Bob Evans) May 4–8. Come meet the Visitor Center staff, enjoy some refreshments, learn about the many tourism attractions located in the county and enter a drawing for a chance to win some door prizes donated by our local tourism industry partners.