The Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau (KCCVB) encourages visitors and residents alike to celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) from May 1-7 by visiting local attractions in Kosciusko County and by participating in their social media contest.

Celebrated annually the first full week in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the economic power of travel in the U.S. The 39th annual NTTW arrives as the industry looks ahead to future growth and success following the challenges of the past two years, according to a news release from KCCVB.

Before the pandemic in 2019, visitors spent $200 million in Kosciusko County. Additionally, $47.1 million in tax revenue, 2,161 jobs and $39.8 million in wages were generated by tourism in the county, proving just how vital the travel and tourism industry is to Kosciusko County, the release states.

KCCVB is celebrating NTTW by hosting a social media contest on their Instagram, @VisitKosciuskoCounty, giving away two free tickets to a summer show of the winner’s choosing at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, along with a one night stay at Tru by Hilton in Warsaw.

Also, KCCVB is celebrating this week by encouraging visitors and residents to sign up for the Engage Kosciusko digital passport program, which gives users the opportunity to earn prizes with the challenge passports and receive discounts at area businesses with the savings passports. These passports include a Trail Blazer Challenge Passport, Public Art Trail Challenge Passport and Sipping Trail Savings Passport.

Residents are encouraged to be tourists in their hometown and explore local attractions they may have never visited before. A list of the top attractions for each community in Kosciusko County can be found on the KCCVB website under their blog section.

“Travel and tourism benefits our workforce, supports our local economy, fosters sustainability, encourages innovation, and is critical for bringing growth to our community as a whole,” said Cori Humes, executive director of KCCVB. “Celebrating our travel and tourism resources helps open the door for recovery and growth after the challenges of the last two years.”

Visit the website VisitKosciuskoCounty.org to find more information and follow them on social media @VisitKosciuskoCounty to enter the giveaway contest.