RICHMOND Va.-- It may come as no surprise to many that Virginia, home to eight natural wonders and numerous monumental historic sites, has caught the eyes -- and stomachs -- of tourists because of its many culinary attractions.
In a press conference Wednesday, Governor McAuliffe announced tourism revenues are expected to exceed $22.4 billion in 2014. According to McAuliffe, tourism supported roughly 216,000 Virginia jobs in 2014, increasing employment by 1.5 percent and providing more than $1.5 billion in state and local revenue.
McAuliffe also mentioned that these new figures illustrate the importance of investing time and money into tourism, an industry which has helped improve Virginia's economy to create solid, good-paying jobs for residents of the state.
"Travelers are coming to Virginia to experience our award-winning wine, craft beer, cider and spirits, and to taste dishes prepared by chefs that are gaining notoriety all over the world for top-notch dining,” said McAuliffe.
Guests coming to Virginia have the option of visiting 36 state parks and 28 miles of warm, sunny beaches, more than 250 wineries; tasting oysters from one of Virginia’s seven oyster regions; listening to music along 300 miles of the Crooked Road Music Heritage Trail; traversing 90 miles of ATV trails or cruising more than 3,000 miles of scenic roadways, taking travelers to coastal beauty, mountain vistas, quaint small towns, and peaceful countryside, according to the Governors office.
According to Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones in a press release tourism is one of the five largest industries in Virginia, generating economic growth in all regions of the Commonwealth. “What is even better is we have more opportunities for prosperity in this strategic sector,” said Jones.
The state agency responsible for marketing Virginia to visitors is The Virginia Tourism Corporation. They have been promoting the Virginia is for Lovers brand for 46 years making it the longest-running state tourism slogan in the country.
