As the 2016 presidential election season progresses, heated debates will ensue from cable news to the kitchen table. While partisan politics may get divisive, there’s one thing that anyone—blue, red or purple—can get behind this year: the power of travel in America.

That’s why, as part of National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) 2016, May 1-7, our industry is campaigning for travel, and encouraging everyone to join the “Travel ’16” platform!

Figuratively speaking, travel is the perfect presidential candidate: it’s a job creator, it’s pro-business and it’s good for our economy. Here’s why: the $2.1 trillion travel industry supports one in nine American jobs—research even demonstrates that 2016 election-related travel is already a boon for local economies, especially in states with presidential primaries. The travel industry provides good jobs in every single Congressional district in the country, and is in fact one of the top 10 employers in almost all 50 states. Americans save an average of $1,147 amount in taxes each year because of travel-related tax revenue in their communities.

Travel also greatly benefits businesses at the local level, including hotels, restaurants, transportation, retail and attractions. And it’s good for our well-being; numerous research studies have confirmed the positive health effects of travel and time off, from reducing the risk of heart disease to decreasing depression. That’s a platform anyone can support!

In light of these extraordinary returns, Visit Newport Beach is stumping for “Travel ‘16”. Our fantastic hotel properties, airport close location, and award winning restaurants make it easy to support group travel to our destination.

Did you realize that business and group travel has a direct impact on local economies? According to the U.S. Travel Association:

➢ Direct spending on business travel by domestic and international travelers, including expenditures on meetings, events and incentive programs (ME&I), totaled $296.3 billion in 2015
➢ ME&I travel accounted for $121.9 billion of all business travel spending.
➢ U.S. residents logged 455 million person‑trips* for business purposes in 2015, with 37.9% for meetings and events.

Newport Beach is poised to boost its local economy with the recent and planned addition of several new options for group travel. New venues include the expansive harbor front Marina Park, the recently remodeled Newport Beach Country Club and the Lido Marina Village renovation with a 130-room boutique hotel expected to open in 2017.

This year’s NTTW is more than just another campaign. It’s a movement that positions the travel industry as a “primary” driver in the U.S. economy and clearly one that has tremendous benefits at the local level as well.