Area residents are invited to help kick off a celebration for National Travel and Tourism Week at Warrensburg’s historic AMTRAK Missouri River Runner Station and home of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce at 100 South Holden Street.

According to a news release, attendees are urged to arrive at the station by 9:15 a.m. on Monday, May 2. Attendees will be able wave to those on Missouri River Runner Train 314, with an estimated arrival time of 9:34 a.m. Area elected officials, along with representatives from Johnson County, City of Warrensburg and various boards will be represented.

From Kansas City to St. Louis- with eight stops in between- passengers from all over the State of Missouri and the Midwest board the AMTRAK Missouri River Runner for leisure travel. Now through June 30, 2022, there currently is one train making two stops per day at each of the 10 stations along the way. Starting July 1, 2022, two trains will be added back to the system for a total of four stops at each station per day.

Ridership of the Missouri River Runner from the Warrensburg Station increased by nearly 10 percent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Since 1983, the first week of May has recognized the contributions of the travel and tourism industry throughout the United States. Officials say local tourism plays a critical role in the area’s economy. In 2021, tourism-related spending in Johnson County was more than $74 million, and more than 1,800 individuals were employed in tourism, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

For more information on the celebration on Monday, May 2, contact WCVB Tourism Director Marcy Barnhart at (660) 262-4611 or marcy.barnhart@warrensburg-mo.com; Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce Director Suzanne Taylor at (660) 747-3168 or staylor@warrensburg.org; or University of Central Missouri’s Executive Director for Governmental Relations David Pearce at (660) 543-4365 or dpearce@ucmo.edu.