
Virginia's Blue Ridge Region Generated &650 Million in Tourism Revenue in 2010


The Roanoke Valley
Convention & Visitors Bureau announced today the regional tourism
industry generated $650 million in visitor spending in 2010, an increase
of 6% over 2009, demonstrating the importance of tourism to the local
economy. Tourism also generated 7,082 jobs and $22 million in
local taxes. (Source - Virginia Tourism Corporation figures for the
cities of Roanoke and Salem
and the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt and Franklin)
"Tourism is big business and
we're pleased to see the healthy increases in visitor spending, especially in
light of the economy," said Landon Howard,
Executive Director of the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors
Bureau. Howard went on to say, "the real credit goes to the Valley's
hospitality industry and their commitment to offering an excellent visitor
experience at every opportunity."
In the same year, visitors
to Virginia
generated $18.9 billion in revenue, a 6.7% increase over 2009. Tourism in Virginia supported
204,000 jobs and provided more than $1.3 billion in state and local tax
revenues in 2010. "Tourism is an instant revenue generator both for the
Commonwealth and for localities," said Alisa Bailey, President and CEO of
the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "Tourists contribute greatly to Virginia's tax revenue
and drive the demand for more jobs in hotels, restaurants, stores, attractions
and businesses in every community."
Contact Catherine Fox, Director of Tourism &
Communications, with any comments or questions:
Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau
Office -
(540) 342-6025 (Ext. 114)
Email - cfox@visitroanokeva.com
www.visitroanokeva.com
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