Nov. 1, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caryn Gresham
304-558-2288, ext. 347
cgresham@wvtourism.com

 

Overnight visitors enjoy diversity of state’s tourism options

View research presentation

MORGANTOWN – A research report released today by the West Virginia Division of Tourism shows that the number of overnight visitors to the state remains constant from last year and these visitors are enjoying everything from outdoor recreation and touring to special events and gaming.

Tom Curtis, senior vice president of Longwoods International, presented the results of the West Virginia Overnight Leisure Travel Study at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Morgantown today.

“With about 10.5 million visitors annually, West Virginia is holding its visitors in the travel game today,” Curtis said. “With increasing time constraints, higher travel costs and a decrease in business travel, your state continues to attract those travelers who are choosing to head out for vacations and getaways.”

Curtis noted that about 34 percent of West Virginia’s overnight travel market is what the industry calls “marketable pleasure” travelers.

“These are the people who are headed out for fun and adventure. They aren’t going on business trips or to visit friends and family,” he said. “Knowing what these travelers like to do and when they want to do it gives the Division of Tourism and the industry good information about where to market and what to sell.”

The most popular activities for overnight travelers in 2004 were outdoor activities, touring, special events, gaming, business/pleasure trips, country resorts, skiing and city visits.

Besides West Virginians who enjoy traveling in the state, residents of Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky and Michigan were top visitors. Out-of-state cities that send large numbers of travelers are Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Cleveland, Columbus, Baltimore, Norfolk-Portsmouth, Richmond-Petersburg, Greensboro-High Point, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Cincinnati, Charlotte and Detroit.

“The majority of overnight visitors travel from 100 to 500 miles to their destinations,” Curtis said. “The most popular months to visit West Virginia are April through September.”

The state’s product strengths, according to the study, included whitewater rafting, snow sports, canoeing, hiking and backpacking, hunting, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, unique and beautiful scenery and water sports.

“Taking this information into consideration as we plan our marketing and promotional activities will help West Virginia reach target markets with messages that appeal to potential travelers and keep them coming to the state,” Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver said.

The Longwoods study complements an earlier study by the firm that provided strategic information about day trip visitors to the state.

“In combination, these studies give us a more accurate visitor profile,” Carver said.

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