Every year more than half of Americans (52%) fail to use all their time off, creating a stock pile of 705 million unused vacation days, up from 662 million days the year before.

“National Plan for Vacation Day is an opportunity for Americans and for America. And who better than the travel industry to help plan the perfect vacation?” said Roger Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association. “America offers something for everyone, whether you prefer a sunny day at the beach, a snowball fight in the mountains or a musical trip through Jackson, Tennessee. We encourage every American to plan their time off to explore our great country.”

The most effective remedy for American workers who want to use more vacation days is better planning. Yet just over half (52%) of households set aside time to plan the use of their vacation time each year.

“Visit Jackson, TN is celebrating National Plan for Vacation Day because we want to encourage Tennesseans to take their well-deserved time off,” said Lori Nunnery, Executive Director. “And what better way to take a day than to travel? By committing to planning on January 29, we can all reap the benefits of taking a break while giving yourself something to look forward to.”

Research shows that planners have a distinct advantage over non-planners: They use more of their time, take longer vacations, and are happier.  Planners are also more likely than non-planners to use all or most of their time off to travel (33% to 18%).

To help employees get their vacation days on the calendar, U.S. Travel Association created a vacation planning tool. By simply entering the number of days off earned, users can plot out their trips or vacations for the year, export to their work or personal calendar, and share with their family and co-workers.

National Plan for Vacation Day is celebrated the last Tuesday in January as a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year.

To plan your next vacation in Jackson and West Tennessee Visit Jackson TN.   Download the Visit Jackson TN APP, connect socially on Facebook and Twitter or call 731.425.8333.