b'LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORA Summer Filled with High Hopes AT THE HELMJOHN GROUNDWATER // EXECUTIVE DIRECTORM emorialDay2024markedtheunofficialstart cometoexpectandrelyupon.Formany,MemorialDayofsummer,anditwasthefirstindicatorthat marksareturntothewaterformanytravelerswhohavethetravelindustryat-largecanexpectasignifi- beenwaitingpatientlyfortheseasontoofficiallybegin.cantuptickinbusinessthisseason.Predictionsindicateanotablesurgeintravel,withapositiveimpactonallseg- NATIONAL TRANSPORTATIONmentsofthepassengervesselindustry,includingferries, AND TOURISM WEEKexcursionboats,dinnercruiseoperators,andsmallover- InlockstepwiththisMemorialDaykickoffisthecele-nightcruisevessels.Theconvergenceoflingeringfactors bration of National Transportation and Tourism Weeksuch increasing demand for scheduledMay19-25.Thisan-travel and the attraction of nualevent,whichissponsoredoutdoor experiences suggests According to USTA, theannually by the U.S. Travela very positive season ahead travel and tourism industryAssociation(USTA)drawsna-forwater-basedtransportation tionalattentiontotheimport-andleisureactivities. generated $89 billion inantcontributionsthatthetravelstate & local tax revenue andtourismindustrymakestoPVAmembervesseloperators to support essentialtheU.S.economy.of all types reported a busyMemorialDayweekend.This services, like education,AccordingtoUSTA:isparticularlypositivebecause emergency response, thisholidaytraditionallyserves In2023,travelspendingleftas a bellwether for summer public safety and more. a$2.8trillioneconomicfoot-travel trends and current in- printontheU.S.economy.dicatorspointtorobustbusi-nessexpectationsforoperatorsinthecomingmonths.It Thetravelandtourismindustrysupportedover15appearsthatthisisdrivenbythefactthatAmericans,and millionjobs.increasingnumbersofinternationaltravelers,areeagertoembracetravelonceagainandtheallureoftheopenwater Thetravelandtourismindustryrepresented2.5percentandtheuniqueexperiencesofferedbyPVAmembervessel ofU.S.GDPandservedasatopexportforournation.operatorsareparticularlyattractive.Thetravelandtourismindustrygenerated$89billionItisagreatsignthatMemorialDaytravelpredictionsher- instate&localtaxrevenuetosupportessential aldavibrantseasonforourindustry.Thecombinationof services,likeeducation,emergencyresponse,publicpent-updemandfortravel,thegrowingpreferenceforout- safety,andmore.dooractivities,andtheuniqueofferingsofadiverseU.S.passengervesselindustrysetsthestageforacontinuing SPRING CONGRESSIONAL VISITSuptickinbusiness.Asmuchoftheseasonalindustrywel- OnMay7,PVAPresidentPatMurphy,PVAVicePresi-comesnewwavesoftravelers,thefocuswillbeondeliver- dentSteveJones,PVASecretaryTreasuryAndrewSargis,ingmemorableexperienceswhilemaintainingthehighest PVAPastPresidentBobBijur,PVABoardMemberJohnstandardsofsafetyandservicethatourpassengershave Lake,PVALegislativeDirectorRichardPatch,andmyselfContinued on page 457 MAY 2024'