National Tourism Day – May 7, 2025

U.S.

Timeline
Importance
Celebrate

National Tourism Day takes place on May 7. This day is observed during National Travel and Tourism Week in the United States, which occurs every first full week of May. National Travel and Tourism Week was first celebrated in May 1983, as President Ronald Reagan signed a Proclamation urging all citizens to observe the week.

National Tourism Day timeline

January 20, 1758

Tour and Tourists

The term ‘tour’ is first used, soon followed by the term ‘tourist,’ referring to participants of tourist events.

19th century

An Expensive Hobby

Tourism is mainly for the rich, who have enough money and spare time for traveling.

July 5, 1841

Thomas Cook Company

As the oldest travel company in the world, the Thomas Cook Company initiates organized tourism.

June 3, 1843

First Group Tour

The Thomas Cook Company organizes the first group package tour.

National Tourism Day Activities

Send a souvenir from your city or state
Pick one of the many souvenirs from your local city or state, and mail it to one of your friends abroad. You’ll be amazed at their reactions.
Plan a trip out of country
With a plethora of travel options at your fingertips, why not plan to travel abroad for a week, or two, or three?
Give the gift of travel.
Give a plane ticket to a loved-one, or friend. They say traveling is one of the most enjoyable and enriching activities one can do.

Why We Love National Tourism Day

Tourism opens up people to new experiences
Travel is good for lots of things – if you’re traveling for business, on a one-week family trip, or gave up everything to pursue a nomadic life, traveling can make you a happier person by building self-confidence through new experiences, breaking barriers and allowing you to meet people from all over the world.
Tourism bridges the language barrier
People who visit foreign countries are encouraged to learn new phrases, words of the native languages of each foreign country they visit. Speaking in foreign tongues helps people attain a whole new outlook in life.
Culture shock
Culture shock describes the impact of moving from a familiar culture to an unfamiliar one. It's the surprise of a new environment, with new people and a new way of life.