Tourism leaders across North Alabama are marking National Travel and Tourism Week with a focus on economic impact and new accessibility initiatives, including the rollout of emerging technology designed to improve the visitor experience.
The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, which promotes travel across the state’s 16 northernmost counties, announced plans to highlight the industry’s growth while introducing tools aimed at making attractions more inclusive for visitors with disabilities.
“Tourism plays a critical role in strengthening North Alabama’s economy while connecting visitors to the people, places and experiences that define our region,” said Tami Reist, president and CEO of the organization. “National Travel and Tourism Week is an opportunity to celebrate that impact and continue building a more welcoming and accessible destination for visitors.”
A centerpiece of this year’s initiative is the introduction of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses at cultural and historical sites across the region. The devices, developed through a collaboration between Meta Platforms and Ray-Ban, are designed to assist visitors with low vision or blindness by enhancing interaction with exhibits and surroundings through hands-free technology.
Tourism officials said the glasses represent a step forward in integrating assistive technology into public spaces, offering features that can help users better navigate environments and engage with content.
The devices were funded through a grant from the Alabama’s Mountains, Rivers and Valleys Resource Conservation & Development Council and will be unveiled throughout the month.
May 11, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. | Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives, 114 Pryor Street W, Athens, AL 35611
- 11:00 a.m. | EarlyWorks Museums, 404 Madison Street SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
May 14, 2026
- 10:00 a.m. | Evelyn Burrow Museum at Wallace State Community College, 108 College Drive NW, Hanceville, AL 35077
- 12:00 p.m. | Jesse Owens Museum, 7019 County Road 203, Danville, AL 35619
- 2:30 p.m. | Cook Museum of Natural Science, 133 4th Avenue NE, Decatur, AL 35601
May 15, 2026
- 10:00 a.m. | The Scottsboro Boys Museum, 428 W Willow Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768
- 2:00 p.m. | Little River Canyon Center, 4322 Little River Canyon Rim Parkway, Fort Payne, AL 35967
June 15, 2026
- 10:00 a.m. | Birthplace of Helen Keller, 300 N Commons St W, Tuscumbia, AL 35674
The rollout follows a separate announcement earlier this month at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, where the association donated 23 wheelchairs and two pairs of the smart glasses to support accessibility at one of the region’s most visited attractions.
Reist said the initiative reflects a broader effort to ensure tourism growth benefits a wider range of visitors.
“We are committed to making North Alabama a destination where travelers with disabilities feel welcome,” she said. “These accessibility improvements are an important step toward creating inclusive experiences that ensure our visitors can explore, learn and enjoy our attractions.”
The announcements come as tourism continues to serve as a major economic driver for the region. In 2025, North Alabama’s travel industry generated $4.9 billion in economic impact and supported more than 50,000 jobs, according to the association. Several counties, including Blount, Cherokee, Cullman, Franklin and Winston, reported double-digit growth year over year.
Nationally, travel contributes approximately $3 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports 15 million jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association, which established National Travel and Tourism Week in 1983.
Industry leaders say the combination of economic momentum and technology-driven accessibility positions North Alabama to remain competitive as travel demand continues to grow, while expanding opportunities for more inclusive tourism experiences.
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