MOTION 
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK 
MAY 5  MAY 13, 2012 
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION 

Since 1984, the first week in May has been designated as National Travel and Tourism Week,
with communities and businesses all over the country creating events and programs to
commemorate the week. 
As one of America's largest industries, travel and tourism generated $1.9 trillion in economic
output nationally last year. As a sector, travel and tourism is adding jobs back into this economy
faster than other industries. O ne in nine workers in America depends on travel/tourism for their
living. 
In Washington State alone, travel spending was $16.4 billion in 2011, generating almost $1
billion in local and state tax revenues, and supporting 150,900 jobs, with earnings/payroll of $4.5
million. Tourism is the state's fourth largest export industry. 
The Port of Seattle not only owns the nation's 16th busiest airport and the West Coast's largest
Alaska cruise port, it also promotes international tourism to our area, in partnership with
Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau. The international tourism program supports direct
international flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and helps promote Alaska cruise
vacations to international travelers. 
In 2011 when Washington State closed its Office of Tourism, the Port of Seattle stepped up as a
founding member and major contributor to the Washington Tourism Alliance, an organization
dedicated to promoting tourism to our state. 
In recognition of the value of travel and tourism to the Port and to the region, the Port
Commission has included the goal to "advance this region as a leading tourism destination and
business gateway "as one of the four major tenets of the Century Agenda. The over-arching goal
of the Century Agenda is to add 100,000 jobs in the region in the next 25 years through
economic growth. 
MOTION 
The Port of Seattle hereby acknowledges the essential role that travel and tourism plays in the
Port's, the region's and the nation's economy and endorses this week as National Travel and
Tourism Week. The Port takes this opportunity to thank its important partners in tourism
promotion: Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Washington Tourism Alliance our
travel and tourism tenants and our many business and destination marketing partners throughout
the state.