Published: September 18, 2009 05:05 pm      

Big business — Tourism still flourishing in Virginia

Despite a troubled state economy, the tourism industry is still booming in Virginia. The Commonwealth’s tourism industry generated $19.2 billion in new revenue in 2008, and 210,620 jobs, according to a new report by the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

The study also found that tourism provided $1.28 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2008.

The new data suggests that Virginia’s tourism industry has remained strong, even during the onset of the national recession in late 2008, according to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

Virginia receives its annual economic impact data from the U.S. Travel Association. The information is based on visitor spending from per person trips taken 50 miles or more away from home. Revenue from tourism in Virginia increased 2.8 percent over 2007.

Tazewell County also reported improved tourism related numbers. Tourism accounted for expenditures of $44 million in Tazewell County in 2008. Another 580 jobs were linked to the tourism industry with an annual payroll of $9,391,045.

“That’s an increase of 5.9 percent over 2007,” Margie Douglass, the county’s economic development and tourism coordinator, said. “And the local expenditure change for the locality is a 6.3 percent increase over 2007.”

Douglass said the local tourism industry is still going strong with interest building in several fall festivals, including today’s Cedar Bluff Heritage Festival, the Burkes Garden Fall Festival slated for Sept. 26, and the Richlands Fall Festival scheduled for Oct. 3. She said the county’s tourism committee has developed a strategic plan for tourism growth, and is continuing to follow the plan with success.

The approaching fall foliage season should also help attract additional visitors to the scenic mountains of Southwest Virginia, as well as southern West Virginia.

Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, said the state’s tourism industry isn’t immune to the tough economic times that have impacted other localities and destinations across the nation.

However, Bailey believes the Commonwealth stands to benefit from the trend of travelers taking vacations closer to home. According to Bailey, Virginia’s location within a day’s drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population makes the state even more appealing for budget-conscious visitors.

Virginia’s tourism growth — and the jump in tourism revenue reported in Tazewell County — is great news. Folks are traveling once again, and spending money in the Commonwealth. That should help the state, the nation and the region’s overall economy.

It is our hope that many of these visitors will make the drive to far Southwest Virginia as well to enjoy some of the region’s best fall foliage, along with a number of premiere attractions, including the Historic Pocahontas Exhibition Mine, the Crab Orchard Museum, and the official Commonwealth Coal Miner’s Memorial in Richlands.