With 432,000 West Virginians working in tourism and the number of overnight visitors to our state rising two percent to 11,628,000 annually, growth in the tourism industry is evident. More people are traveling from out of state to enjoy our state’s beautiful, unique landscape and the opportunities it affords visitors. Tourism is booming in West Virginia, with an estimated economic impact of $3.9 billion each year.
On February 8, representatives from dozens of West Virginia’s facets of tourism assembled in celebration of West Virginia Tourism Day at the Capitol. Various display booths covering topics ranging from wildlife to space stretched from the Senate to the House side of the rotunda and consumed the well areas of the floor below.
All organizations present hoped to spread information about what West Virginia has to offer. “If our organizations were more recognized, people would take a better look at the economic impact that we have in small cities. That impact is way greater than what people realize,” said Paul Marey, an officer on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals.
Adventure activities like whitewater rafting and atv tours, luxury resorts such as the Greenbrier and Glade Springs, various fairs, festivals, museums, state parks and other fun activities and local attractions were all featured today at the Capitol.
Legislators took Tourism Day as an opportunity to visit these various booths, sample the foods of West Virginia companies and speak with the representatives from tourism organizations. “It’s great when people come out to advocate things that will better West Virginia. These displays reach out to West Virginians and urge legislative reaction,” said Senator Mike Hall.
Tourism Day has left the Capitol, but it was able to draw attention to West Virginia’s blossoming tourism economy.
