The National Travel and Tourism Office, or NTTO for short, is a government agency that serves as the primary source of information on travel and tourism in the United States. It is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees a wide range of economic activities and policies.
What Does the NTTO Do?
The NTTO has several key functions. Its primary mission is to promote international travel to the United States by providing accurate and timely information on U. destinations, attractions, and travel services. This includes conducting research on travel trends, analyzing data on visitor arrivals and spending, and developing marketing strategies to attract more tourists to the country.
In addition to its promotional activities, the NTTO also serves as a liaison between the travel industry and government agencies at all levels. It works closely with state tourism offices, convention bureaus, airlines, hotels, and other travel-related businesses to coordinate efforts to promote tourism and provide visitors with a positive experience.
How Does the NTTO Gather Information?
To fulfill its mission of providing accurate information on travel trends and visitor behavior, the NTTO collects data from a variety of sources. These include:
- The Department of Homeland Security’s Arrival/Departure Information System (ADIS), which tracks visitor arrivals and departures at U. ports of entry
- The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which collects data on visitor spending in different regions of the country
- The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), which provides demographic information on travelers
By analyzing this data and other sources such as surveys and focus groups, the NTTO is able to identify emerging trends in international travel to the United States. This information is then used to develop marketing campaigns that Target specific groups of travelers or highlight particular destinations or attractions.
The Importance of Tourism in the U.
Tourism is an important sector of the U. economy, accounting for billions of dollars in spending and supporting millions of jobs. According to the U. Travel Association, travel and tourism generated $1.1 trillion in economic output in 2019 and supported 9.4 million jobs.
In addition to its economic impact, tourism also plays a vital role in promoting cultural exchange and understanding between the United States and other countries. By attracting visitors from around the world, the U. can showcase its diverse cultures, landscapes, and attractions while learning about other cultures and traditions.
Conclusion
The National Travel and Tourism Office plays a critical role in promoting international travel to the United States and supporting the travel industry as a whole. Through its research, marketing campaigns, and partnerships with other agencies, it helps to ensure that visitors have a positive experience when they come to the U. And by doing so, it helps to sustain one of the most important sectors of our economy while fostering greater understanding between people from different parts of the world.