During Maryland Travel & Tourism Week (May 1-7, 2022), Dorchester County salutes its tourism partners – hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, markets, shops, outfitters, and more!
Governor Larry Hogan named May 1-7, 2022 as Maryland Travel & Tourism Week, in tandem with the U.S. Travel Association’s annual National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW).
“We are excited to celebrate Travel and Tourism Week in Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Despite incredible challenges, Maryland’s tourism industry persevered thanks to the resilience of our tourism professionals, and we are proud to welcome visitors to our great state.”
NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate awareness of the economic power of travel in the United States. This year’s national theme of the “Future of Travel” recognizes the industry as an essential economic driver for communities across the country, as a source of job creation, and as a vehicle for providing sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive travel experiences.
In mid-April, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their monthly state jobs and unemployment data. According to the preliminary survey data, Maryland gained 3,900 jobs, with the Leisure and Hospitality sector contributing the most growth with an increase of 2,900 jobs.
A snapshot of the economic impact of the Maryland tourism industry shows that, in 2020, visitor spending totaled $11.6 billion and generated $1.7 billion in state and local taxes, saving each household in Maryland $775. Tourism is also one of the largest private-sector employers in Maryland, directly supporting 104,328 jobs in the state.
In Dorchester County in 2019 (before the pandemic), visitor spending contributed $173.6 million to the economy. The tourism share of the Dorchester County economy was 14.3 percent.
