North Carolina marks National Travel and Tourism week with a celebrations in the state capital and at the nine welcome centers across the state.

The N.C. Travel Industry Association has scheduled a "Tourism Day Extravaganza" at the Legislative Building in Raleigh on Tuesday to emphasize to lawmakers the importance of the tourism industry to the state, its tax base and its economy.

As part of the event, members of the state House and Senate will compete against each other in the Pit Crew Challenge at the N.C. Museum of Natural Science. It's coordinated by Visit Charlotte and begins at noon.

National Travel and Tourism Week, which continues through May 17, is a collective effort to promote the power of travel through customized events in communities nationwide.