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Parkersburg, West Virginia -- The Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau will join hundreds of cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide May 12-20, 2007 in recognition of the 24^th annual National Tourism Week.

Designated by Congress and established by presidential proclamation in 1983, the event highlights the value and impact of the nation’s $703 billion travel industry and the economic and social contributions it brings to Mid-Ohio Valley .

This year’s theme, “Travel & Tourism: America ’s Front Door,” illustrates the importance of travel to America ’s image and suggests its impact as a leading industry for economic growth.

“Hotels and meeting facilities, attractions, restaurants and transportation providers are among the local businesses significantly impacted by travel to the region,” Steve Nicely, Greater Parkersburg CVB president & CEO, said. “In Wood County , this industry employs more than 1,000 people, generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, and positively impacts our area. This week celebrates the people who visit here, the workforce that provides service for them and the development created as a result.”

On Friday, May 18 the Greater Parkersburg CVB will join with other local tourism partners to celebrate National Tourism Week 2007 and welcome visitors to the area with booth displays, free refreshments and other activities at the Welcome Center in Williamstown from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The public is invited to participate in the kick-off ceremonies at 10:00 a.m.  Participating area businesses include the Blennerhassett Hotel,Comfort Suites, Fenton Art Glass, Friends of Blennerhassett, Middleton Doll, Mountwood Park and Trans Allegheny Books.

“This is also an excellent opportunity for local residents to visit the welcome center and discover all there is to see and do here in their own backyard, as well as plan trips for this summer throughout West Virginia,” Nicely said.  

Nationwide, the U.S. travel industry directly employs 7.5 million people, generates payroll of $171 billion and tax revenues of about $105 billion. It ranks fifth among the 20 major industry sectors measured by the U.S. Census Bureau. Visitors to the U.S. spent more here than U.S. residents traveling abroad, creating a positive balance of trade of $7.4 billion for the national economy. Travel expenditures within the United States total $703 billion.

National Tourism Week is one of several Tourism Works for America^® programs supported annually by the Travel Industry Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents the common interests and concerns of travel in America .

For more information on the region’s tourism industry visit www.greaterparkersburg.com

The Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau was organized in 1985 and is an independent, nonprofit corporation dedicated to strengthening the area's economy by marketing Greater Parkersburg as a destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions. The Bureau is devoted to providing appropriate services for visitors and its partners.

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