May 17, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Turner
304-558-2288, ext. 341
mturner@wvtourism.com

Tourism has huge impact on West Virginia’s economy
Mountain State celebrates National Tourism Week

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.VA. – In recognition of the impact of tourism on the state’s economy and wellbeing, West Virginia this week celebrates National Tourism Week and Gov. Joe Manchin proclaimed today “West Virginia Tourism Day.”

Travelers to the Mountain State spend more than $3.4 billion a year, or $9.3 million per day, generating $536 million in tax revenue each year and supporting 41,000 jobs. Without those travel generated tax revenues, each household in West Virginia would have to pay an additional $730 in state and local taxes to maintain current service levels, according to a 2005 Dean Runyan Associates study.

“Our tourism industry continues to blossom and is one of West Virginia’s greatest assets,” said Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver. “Most of us know the terrific vacation opportunities we have here, but it’s easy to overlook how important it is to our economy. Tourism helps to keep West Virginia healthy and this week is designated to showcase the importance of the tourism industry here and in other states.”

As part of National Tourism Week and throughout the summer, the state’s eight Interstate Welcome Centers have planned giveaways from area tourism businesses and have decorated the centers with posters and displays representing activities in their respective regions. Musicians and artisans also will visit and entertain tourists who stop in the centers.

Nationally, tourism is making a rebound to the record levels reached before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Overall demand was up and U.S. travel expenditures rose 7.8 percent in 2005, according to a Randall Travel Marketing study. Moderate growth in leisure and business travel is forecast for this year, according to the study. In West Virginia, growth has been consistent, even after Sept. 11, Carver said. Travel spending in West Virginia has increased by 11.4 percent per year since 2000.

The travel counselors who answer the 1-800-CALL WVA tourism information hotline help tourists looking for vacation, weekend getaway or day trip suggestions in West Virginia. They also can transfer callers toll-free to many tourism businesses, including state parks. The official state tourism web at www.callwva.com also provides the most comprehensive West Virginia travel information available on the Internet.

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Editor’s Note: For more information about West Virginia travelers, tourism economic impact and the state’s tourism marketing plan, visit the reports section of the state tourism web site, http://www.wvtourism.com/spec.aspx?pgID=184. The online press room at www.callwvanews.com provides the latest press kits, events calendar and story ideas from across the state.

Please also see the enclosed fact sheet for tidbits about tourism, West Virginia travelers and other unique West Virginia attributes.

MAY 2006 -- WEST VIRGINIA TOURISM TIDBITS

* The I-68 westbound Welcome Center near Hazelton in Preston County features a new life-size display of a Dimetrodon, a meat-eating pelycosaur (similar to a dinosaur, but more closely related to mammals) that roamed the hills of West Virginia more than 280 million years ago.

* Top activities of West Virginia overnight travelers are (in order) outdoors, touring, special events, gaming and business travel. Top overnight visitors are from West Virginia (18%), Ohio (16%) and Virginia (11%).

* More than 75 percent of West Virginia is forested, making it the third-most-forested state.

* Nationally, the $1.3 trillion travel and tourism industry generates $100 billion in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments.

* More than 200,000 people take commercial whitewater rafting trips in West Virginia each year – most of those trips occur from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

* More than 800,000 people come to West Virginia to ski and snowboard at the state’s four major ski resorts each year.

* The Adventure Travel Trade Association predicts a 10 percent increase in adventure travel this year, including growth in the family market. Adventure travel includes trekking, biking, rock-climbing and rafting.

* In 2005, nearly 4 million visitors stopped in the state’s eight Interstate highway Welcome Centers.

* Last year, employees at the state tourism office shipped more than 320,000 travel guides, answered more than 100,000 e-mails and 200,000 telephone calls.

* In 2005, nearly 30,000 international tourists signed the guest registers at the state’s welcome centers. Most international travelers are from Canada, but nearly 1,000 were from Germany, 651 were from the United Kingdom, 437 were from Brazil, 226 were from Australia and 219 were from Japan.

* The most requested West Virginia tourism information in March 2006, in order, was culture and history; whitewater rafting; lodging; camping; and skiing.