National Tour Association Reminds People of Their Freedom to Travel

A public service campaign reminding North Americans that travel is one of their most fundamental freedoms has been launched by the National Tour Association, an association of nearly 4,000 travel professionals. The public service campaign comes just in time for National Tourism Week, which is May 5-11. The campaign features a television and radio PSA along with a consumer Web site.

May 6, 2002

Contact: Doug Wade
doug.wade@ntastaff.com
859-226-4201 (not for publication)

National Tour Association Reminds People of
Their Freedom to Travel

LEXINGTON, Ky.) -- A public service campaign reminding North Americans that travel is one of their most fundamental freedoms has been launched by the National Tour Association, an association of nearly 4,000 travel professionals. The public service campaign comes just in time for National Tourism Week, which is May 5-11.

The association produced a 20-, 30- and 60-second public service announcement for Travel...the perfect freedom, an initiative NTA developed last fall to encourage consumer travel after Sept. 11. The PSA was distributed to 200 television stations and 100 radio stations throughout the country and will run for the next 26 weeks.
The fast-paced video sticks to a people in motion" theme and features upbeat music and several scenes of travelers visiting theme parks, sporting events, historic landmarks and national parks. Between scenes, an on-screen message encourages viewers to go, do, see, experience" everything that North America has to offer.

The PSA also can be viewed online at www.traveltheperfectfreedom.com.

Since launching Travel...the perfect freedom, several travel organizations have partnered with NTA to promote this important message, including travel industry associations, trade publications and the states of North Carolina, Maine, Georgia, Kentucky and West Virginia.

The National Tour Association is an organization of nearly 4,000 tourism professionals representing the packaged travel industry, which had a direct economic impact of $129 billion in North America in 2000. NTA provides unsurpassed business opportunities, knowledge and information to businesses involved in tour operator packaged travel. NTA also serves as a consumer advocate through membership requirements, education and a $250,000 Consumer Protection Plan. For more
information, visit www.ntaonline.com.