by Steve Richer, DC Correspondent
The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence will occur on July 4, 2026, commemorating the pivotal moment in the formation of the United States of America.
The National Parks Conservation Association and its National Parks Second Century Coalition, of which IITA is an active member, discussed this week what this could mean to upgrading our national parks and increasing visitation to America during the commemorative year of 2026.
Congress has already established a Semiquincentennial Commission – America250 – for this purpose, with a large focus on experiencing America during 2026. The Commission is comprised of 16 private citizens, four Senators, four Representatives, and 12 ex-officio members from all three branches of the federal government.
When you review the website, you will see what a major role both domestic and international tourism will have during that year.
This is the same impact that happened back in 1976 for the Bicentennial, when the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (known as ARBA and led by former Secretary of the Navy and future United States Senator from Virginia John Warner, who was married to Elizabeth Taylor at the time) coordinated activities with state bicentennial agencies and local ones, too.
During that year and those following marking the anniversaries of various battles through the end of the Revolution, tourism was a major thrust of how to experience America’s birthday.
The same can be achieved now!
Inbound operators can invite their clients to sell America and promote visits here for the 250th commemoration. People around the world love to visit another country for an important occurrence, such as a major anniversary.
The best part is that any tourism product providing a way to experience America during that year can be marketed and branded as “America’s 250th Anniversary” – like a hiking extravaganza, tour of the Old West, national parks experience, sun and sand tour, great cities of the East, or whatever else inbound operators are normally selling. Products do not have to be related to the American Revolution. It’s just a special reason to see America in 2026.
This opportunity is perfectly timed for inbound operators to use it at IPW next month in Los Angeles. Every tour that operators promote can be branded for 2026, which could easily be the year inbound tourism fully recovers and surpasses the numbers of the pre-pandemic year of 2019. It’s an easy way to get more interest for inbound tourism!
Please review the America250.org website for some good thematic ideas and feed them back to IITA, which certainly will be playing a role with Brand USA, the National Parks Second Century Coalition, the Semiquincentennial Commission, US Travel, and others to use this extra boost for a banner inbound tourism year in 2026!
This writer is a veteran of the Bicentennial commemoration and can verify that it did boost tourism nationally in a significant way! Make your IPW plans to include this added value now.
Happy Birthday, America!