National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD)

The National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) leverages the collective strength of state tourism offices to provide leadership and a forum for information sharing on issues impacting tourism. Representing all 50 states, the five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, NCSTD serves its members by:

Providing a voice on critical public policy issues.
Offering learning opportunities to increase the effectiveness of state tourism offices.
Driving internal and external communication.
Shaping and supporting coordinated domestic and international marketing efforts.
Offering state tourism directors a forum for sharpening leadership skills.

NCSTD Highlights

Duane Parrish State Tourism Director of the Year 2019

In addition to their usual U.S. Travel membership benefits, NCSTD provides programs and services specifically for the state tourism directors and their office personnel. These programs and services are designed to enhance professional development, address common state tourism issues, provide resources and other tools to help state tourism offices perform mission critical activities.

EDUCATE and NETWORK:

Offering learning opportunities to increase the effectiveness of state tourism offices.
The NCSTD Leadership Forum, held in the fall, provides programming and training specifically for state tourism directors.
Meet several times a year to enhance professional development, address common issues and provide resources to help state tourism offices perform mission-critical activities.

ADVOCATE:

Advancing tourism and travel issues relevant to state tourism offices.
NCSTD members are represented on U.S. Travel's Board of Directors.
Leveraging the collective strength of the industry to influence policy on travel-related issues at Destination Capitol Hill, the U.S. travel industry’s premier legislative fly-in.
Utilizing tools like the Travel Economic Impact Calculator to show the direct impact of a change in traveler spending on a state's economy.

INFORM:

Gaining access to authoritative industry research on the latest travel trends and forecasts that affect marketing decisions.
Participating in the annual Mercury Awards, which showcase creative accomplishments in tourism marketing and promotion.
Nominating a colleague for the NCSTD State Tourism Director of the Year Award which recognizes excellence in marketing, promotion and individual leadership within the nominee's state.