Fort Madison to celebrate national Tourism week

FORT MADISON — National Travel and Tourism Week, (NTTW) the annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight the essential role that travel will play in driving economic growth and innovation through the theme #TravelForward.
Established in 1983, NTTW is an annual tradition to mark the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, stimulating business activity and elevating the quality of life for everyday Americans.
In 2021, visitors spent over $6.1 billion across the Iowa economy. This direct visitor spending impact generated a total economic impact of $9.4 billion in Iowa, sustained nearly 65,000 jobs and generated $1.0 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2021.
In Lee County, the direct spending impact generated a total economic impact of $71.43 million, 547 jobs and generated $10.75 million in state and local tax revenues in 2021.
Fort Madison Mayor Matt Mohrfeld has declared May 7-13, 2023 as Travel and Tourism Week in Fort Madison at last night’s City Council Meeting. The Fort Madison Tourism Bureau will recognize travel’s essential contributions by celebrating our community’s uniqueness with daily highlights all next week.
Events scheduled for the week include:
•Monday: Fort Madison’s History and Future “Moving Forward”
•Tuesday: Small Business Spotlight – Highlighting Fort Madison favorites that have been around for years
•Wednesday: Brews & Foods
•Thursday: Outdoor Exploration
•Friday: “Scoop The Loop” – A tour of the Lake Cooper Loop|
•Saturday: “A Toast To Tourism” with a Hospitality Happy Hour at the Hillside Inn sponsored by Connection Bank.
 “Travel is at the heart of Fort Madison, powering a strong economy, creating jobs, and strengthening our community’s culture and identity. We are a very proud community and love to share it with visitors. This National Travel and Tourism Week, we are thrilled to celebrate all that travel does for our community now, and all that it will contribute in the future," Chi Eastin, the Fort Madison Tourism Director said.
Also, we encourage everyone to LIKE and FOLLOW the Visit Fort Madison Facebook page to learn about upcoming community events, progress at our new marina, Amtrak train travel to/from Fort Madison, Lake Cooper Loop happenings and big local celebrations including the 75^th Tri State Rodeo, 102^nd Mexican Fiesta. 111^th Charlie Korschgen 4^th of July Kiddie Parade at the CB&Q’s 125^th birthday.”
"Tourism throughout Fort Madison and its surrounding communities has been rapidly growing over the past several years. Fort Madison and Southeast Iowa is a unique tourist destination that builds upon its historical and geographical landscape.  As a result of this, continued growth in tourism has become a driving force for small businesses and economic development throughout the area. Fort Madison is a vibrant community that is ever-growing, innovating, and creating new opportunities for its visitors." Stated Julie Hohl, Fort Madison Tourism Board Chair.