Fifty states — or, if you want to get technical: 46 states and four commonwealths (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia). More than 300 million people. Stretching from sea to shining sea; from California to the New York Island; from redwood forests to Gulf Stream waters. Filled with amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty. Land of the free and home of the brave.

Home to 58 national parks, 100 historic sites, 74 national monuments, 28 national memorials, as well as two dozen battlefields and military parks and numerous national seashores, parkways, recreation areas and national preserves.

Lakes, rivers, deserts, rain forests, glaciers, volcanoes, canyons, beaches, badlands. Metropolises, cities, towns, villages, countrysides. Skyscrapers, churches, museums, bridges, dams, ruins. Festivals, celebrations, art, culture, diversity.

Anyway you look at it, America is a pretty remarkable place.

So it is not surprising that a lot of people want to get out and see it.

Nor is it surprising that travel and tourism is one of the country's largest industries.

Consider, for example, some figures from the annual report of the Travel Industry Association, a nonprofit trade group made up of all those involved in the industry, set up for advocacy, education and to promote travel to and within the United States.

According to TIA, in 2007 the travel and tourism industry was responsible for:

• $740 billion in direct travel expenditures, including domestic and international travelers.

• $1.6 trillion in direct, indirect and induced travel expenditures, including international travelers' spending in the U.S.

• $110 billion in tax revenues for local, state and federal governments.

In addition, says the association:

• Each U.S. household would pay $995 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry.

• Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. last year averaged $2 billion a day, $84.5 million an hour, $1.4 million a minute and $23,500 a second.

• The industry is also one of America's largest employers, generating 7.5 million jobs last year.

As the industry likes to say: "Travel & Tourism Works for America."

In order to "promote a wider understanding of travel as a major U.S. industry," TIA annually sponsors National Tourism Week, which runs May 10-18 this year.

In fact, 2008 is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the weeklong observance, says Greg Staley, TIA spokesman. A joint resolution was passed by Congress and signed into effect by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.