Tourism spending in Virginia reached a new record of $33.3 billion in 2023, and for the second year in a row has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
The $33.3 billion spent in Virginia is 9.8 percent more than in 2022, according to a new report from the Virginia Tourism Corporation. In 2022, visitor spending generated $30.3 billion in Virginia.
“This $3 billion increase from 2022 not only surpasses pre-pandemic levels by an impressive 14.7 percent but also underscores the resilience and appeal of our Commonwealth as a premier travel destination,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, in a news release.
Daily spending by visitors topped $91 million, $8 million more than the previous year. Taxes paid by those visitors added up to $2.4 billion.
Overnight visitations reached 43.6 million in 2023, an increase of 1.4 million over 2022.
Virginia measures tourism spending in five categories, and a news release from the governor’s office says that spending has fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels in recreation, transportation, lodging, food and beverage, and retail. Some segments exceed 2019 levels.
The fastest growing tourism category in 2023 was recreation, which was 24 percent higher than before the pandemic and up 12 percent from 2022.
Transportation accounts for 30 percent of what visitors spend as they travel through Dulles International and Reagan National airports. Transportation tourism spending was 11 percent higher than pre-pandemic days, and visitors spent 9 percent more on lodging than in 2019.
More than 5 percent of Virginians work in tourism. In 2023, that accounted for over 224,000 people, an increase of more than 13,000 jobs from the previous year and 93 percent of pre-pandemic employment levels.
“The success of 2023 sets a strong foundation as we build on this momentum in the years to come,” McClenny said.
Feature image of Virginia Beach pier by stacy/stock.adobe.com
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