Join us as we explore West Virginia’s tourism economy. Although its not commonly examined as a separate sector of the economy, in West Virginia tourism has become a vital provider of jobs and income, and has become the largest industry in many areas of the state. We’ll examine the tourism industry’s direct and indirect impact on local economies, and consider the economic benefits of tourism statewide.

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According to the report, West Virginia’s travel and tourism industry generated an estimated $3.4 billion in economic activity, attracting 10.46 million overnight and 39.8 million day visitors to the Mountain State and directly supporting 40,800 jobs paying $766 million in wages during 2004.

West Virginia’s Tourism Industry

The report, Economic Impact of Travel on West Virginia, prepared for West Virginia Division of Tourism by Dean Runyan Associates in 2005, examines the economic impact of travel and tourism to and through West Virginia and each its fifty-five counties during the period of 2000-2004. Also included in the report is an estimate of the Gross State Product of the travel industry, which provides a more meaningful analysis, allowing the industry to be compared to other industries.

As noted earlier, within the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system, businesses that make up the tourism industry are imbedded in a number of different industry sectors, such “eating and drinking” , “hotel and lodging”, “amusements and recreation services”, “retail” and “transportation,” making an accurate evaluation of tourism’s economic impact difficult. (1)

West Virginia’s tourism industry is often referred to as “an invisible industry” because its economic impact is difficult to measure (due to the SIC system) and because the average citizen of in most West Virginia towns rarely “sees” the industry, as the rafting trips, hikes, rock climbing, etc. take place in rural areas of the county.

Although the data contained in the report will soon be two years old, it is the most comprehensive and accurate economic report ever compiled about West Virginia’s travel and tourism industry. We encourage anyone wishing to obtain an extremely detailed view of the economic impact of travel and tourism in West Virginia to download and review the report.