NTW was established in 1983, when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating the week to be celebrated in May 1984. In a White House Ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with �the appropriate ceremonies and activities.� Industry leaders and public relations professionals from the major travel and tourism trade associations were the first volunteers to manage the annual event. By January 1986 industry leaders had formed a permanent full time office at TIA to sponsor the event and expand tourism awareness into year-round programs.

Often the travel and tourism industry is viewed as fractured because only its most obvious segments, such as airlines, rental cars, hotels and travel agents, are immediately recognized by the public or reported on by the media. TIA�s Tourism Works for America resources help the public as well as the industry itself understand the interconnectedness of travel and tourism and how it takes each and every industry segment to assemble, then promote and sell the travel product. Only then can the consumer have a complete and satisfying travel experience.
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