Tourism Revenue Reached $35,337,606 in Waynesboro in 2016
According to the US Travel Association, tourism in Virginia generated $24 billion in travel spending. Tourism also supported 230,000 jobs in the Commonwealth and $1.7 billion in state and local taxes. The increase is largely attributed to Virginia’s tourism development all around the state, including new hotels, restaurants, agritourism, craft breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries, sports, outdoor recreation, festivals and events, music venues, wedding venues, meeting and convention venues, attractions and much more. Virginia’s changing tourism product makes the Commonwealth a destination for authentic travel experiences and thriving communities.
Tourism was again an important contributor to the local economy in 2016. Tourism revenue for Waynesboro reached $35,337,606, a 0.8% change over 2015. Local tourism-supported jobs totaled 369 while local tourism-related taxes were $1,194,170. All data was received by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) from US Travel Association and is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from trips taken 50 miles or more away from home.
“We’re excited for the steady tourism growth and anticipate more growth for 2017, given the recent development of new tourism product such as the re-opening of the Wayne Theatre and Basic City Beer Company on the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail.” said Assistant Director of Economic Development and Tourism, Courtney Cranor. “There are some strong programs that our Parks and Recreation department has been working on, as well, that help strengthen tourism.”
“As one of Virginia’s largest private sector industries, tourism represents $24 billion in economic impact and contributes $1.7 billion in state and local taxes, injecting critical dollars into our communities statewide,” said Todd Haymore, Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The tourism industry supports local businesses, services, and infrastructure, and is an important contributor to job creation. Communities all across Virginia continue to develop new tourism product, making the Commonwealth one of the most exciting and compelling destinations in the world.”
For a video on Virginia’s record-breaking year, click here.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency responsible for marketing Virginia to visitors and promoting the Virginia is for Lovers brand. Virginia is for Lovers is the longest-running state tourism slogan in the country. Virginia is for Lovers stands for love, pure and simple, and promotes the state as the ideal destination for loved ones to completely connect on a great vacation. Virginia is for Lovers was named one of the top 10 tourism marketing campaigns of all time by Forbes and was inducted into the National Advertising Walk of Fame in 2009.
Plan your next vacation in Virginia. Visit www.virginia.org to discover why Virginia is for Lovers.
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The Virginia Tourism Corporation receives its annual economic impact data from the U.S. Travel Association. The information is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from per-person trips taken 50 miles or more away from home. Detailed economic impact data by locality is available on www.vatc.org under Research.
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