To understand tourism you must travel

Hello friends! As we move closer to Christmas, life feels as hectic as ever. This season is always special. Basketball is in full swing, Christmas break is just around the corner, and kids everywhere are counting down the days until Santa arrives. It truly is a wonderful time of year.

Speaking of wonderful times… who loves to travel?

To really understand tourism, you have to be a tourist at some point. You have to experience the tours, the festivals, the hotels, the restaurants, the adventures—whatever excites your heart. But you must experience it in a place that isn’t home. In other words, you’ve got to step out of the holler.

A lot of people still don’t fully grasp what tourism really means, and honestly, that’s not their fault. If you’ve never been a tourist, how can you fully appreciate the value of tourism in your own community?

So here’s my challenge to you: get out and see the world. Step outside your comfort zone. Try something new, somewhere you’ve never been, surrounded by people you’ve never met. Embrace the feeling of being a tourist.

Once you do, you’ll begin to understand—maybe for the first time—the true meaning and importance of tourism.

Much love, Manchester!