Southwest Virginia Tourism Helps Generate 27 Billion Dollars In 2019

Southwest Virginia tourism attractions helped to generate 27 billion dollars in visitor spending in 2019. The numbers reflect a three point four percent increase over 2018. Tourism in southwest Virginia and the rest of the Commonwealth supported more than 230 thousand jobs for Virginia communities. The travel industry in Virginia has continued to grow ten years in a row, however, these figures do not account for the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on the tourism industry in Virginia. Virginia ranks eighth in the nation for domestic travel spending and officials are hoping for a robust return to 2019 numbers. Forecasts predict Virginia will approach tourism normalcy in the second half of 2021.