LINCOLN, NEB. (May 6, 2005)--In recognition of the important role that the travel and tourism industry plays in the state's economy, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's (DED) Travel and Tourism Division has designated May 7-15 as the annual celebration of See Nebraska Week.

In 2004, residents and visitors from other states made 19.6 million trips throughout Nebraska. According to the Travel Industry Association, one in every eight people across the nation has a job that is related to, or created by, travel. Tourism is Nebraska's third- largest source of income from sources outside the state.

"In Nebraska, nearly 43,000 jobs have resulted from the tourism industry. These jobs range from attractions and lodging facilities to gas stations, restaurants and events," said Dan Curran, director of DED's Travel and Tourism Division. "Every dollar a tourist spends in a community is respent there, producing an additional $1.70 in business and income and creating an overall economic impact of $2.70."

"Every resident can play an important role in tourism. This summer, we encourage Nebraskans to visit our website and view the list of convenient and exciting vacation packages. Whether your interests range from golfing to attending the theatre, these packages have something for everyone and make getting away simple. Throughout this week, we want to thank our tourism sponsors across the state for their support, to honor the employees who serve the traveling public, and to show our pride for our industry," Curran said.

To receive a free Nebraska travel packet, call 1-877-NEBRASKA, or visit the Nebraska Travel and Tourism website at: www.VisitNebraska.org

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Dan Curran at 800-228-4307, 402-471-3794, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it