May 2. The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. Visit Lake Norman will celebrate the power of tourism by giving away tickets to various local and regional attractions and events, including Rural Hill’s NC Brewers and Music Festival, Lake Norman Comedy Zone and Carolina Raptor Center. VLN will also provide refreshments to all guests at its visitor center May 2-6.

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce and VLN have incorporated a travel and tourism panel during the Small Business Week luncheon held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 3 at the Peninsula Club. The panel experts include Joe Kindred with Kindred Restaurant, Mary Wilson with the Lake Norman Tennis Association, Matt Glidden with Ass Clown Brewing, Thomas Finlay with Carolina Rapids Soccer and Sally Ashworth with Visit Lake Norman.

Travel and tourism is one of America’s largest industries. It generated $2.1 trillion in economic output in 2015, with $947.1 billion spent directly by domestic and international travelers. Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U. S. averaged $2.6 billion a day.

The theme of this year’s National Travel and Tourism Week is “Travel ’16.” The goal of the theme is to ensure that travel—and its positive impact—is part of the discussion during the 2016 election season. The official celebration is May 1-7. Learn more at www.ustravel.org/events/national-travel-and-tourism-week.