Virginia tourism revenues reached $23 billion in 2015

The Virginia Tourism Corporation announced today that the Commonwealth’s tourism revenues topped $23 billion in 2015, a 2.4 percent increase over 2014.

In 2015, tourism in Virginia supported 223,100 jobs. The tourism industry also provided more than $1.6 billion in state and local revenue. The increase is largely attributed to Virginia’s authentic, local travel experiences, diversity of tourism product, and the notable efforts of the destination marketing organizations and their leadership in their communities.

The tourism industry is a vital part of the new Virginia economy. Tourism is an instant generator for the Commonwealth – for every one dollar invested, tourism returns five dollars to the general fund.

Tourism is also the fifth largest private employer in Virginia.

Virginia tourism facts

• Generated $23 billion in domestic visitor spending,
• Supported 223,100 jobs,
• Provided $1.6 billion in state and local taxes for Virginia’s coffers
• Spending by domestic travelers was $63 million a day in Virginia during 2015.
• The travel industry is the fifth largest private employer in Virginia.
• Virginia ranks 9^th in domestic traveler spending among 50 states and Washington D.C.
• The 223,100 jobs supported by domestic travel in Virginia comprised 7.1 percent of the state’s total private employment during 2015.
• On average, every $102,821 spent by domestic travelers in Virginia during 2015 supported one job.
• Domestic travel supported employees in Virginia earned over $5.3 billion in payroll incomeduring 2015, representing a 5.0 percent increase from 2014.
• Domestic travel in Virginia directly generated more than $3.1 billion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments in 2015, up 6.2 percent from 2014.
• Arlington County received close to $3.1 billion in domestic travel expenditures leading all of Virginia’s 133 counties and independent cities. Fairfax County followed Arlington County closely, ranking second with $2.9 billion. Loudoun County ranked third with $1.6 billion.
• Forty-four of Virginia’s 133 counties and independent cities received over $100 million in domestic travel expenditures in 2015.