WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Bus Association is doing its part to promote National Tourism Week by supporting motorcoach travel as a top transportation option. Motorcoach travel is the greenest form of transportation and performs more than 720 million passenger trips per year.

The ABA believes that more people will take trips throughout the country as the economy continues to improve, and that business should go to the motorcoach industry. The U.S. Travel Association projects tourism will generate $922 billion for the U.S. economy in 2014, with 85% of that money being spent by U.S. residents. One out of every nine jobs in the U.S. is somehow related to the tourism and travel industry, and thousands of people are employed in the motorcoach industry.

Charter and tour operators make significant contributions to the U.S. economy. For instance, a full charter bus visiting Washington, D.C. produces more than $10,000 in daily economic activity for the community in terms of hotel rooms, restaurants, souvenirs and other items.

Chicago’s DePaul University reported in 2011 that intercity, long-distance passenger motorcoach travel was the only mode of transportation to grow substantially year-to-year.

“We are pleased to support National Tourism Week, and the American Bus Association believes getting people out and traveling is not only good for them, but also for the U.S. economy,” said Peter Pantuso, ABA president and CEO. “We are pleased that the tourism sector of the economy is improving. The ABA is one of the leaders in the tourism industry and we know the motorcoach industry will do its part to safely move millions of Americans each day,”

National Tourism Week kicks off today, May 9, and lasts until May 13.


Source: American Bus Association