WASHINGTON — Virginia’s tourism revenues reached $23 billion in 2015, up 2.3 percent from the previous year.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation says the tourism industry supported 222,6000 jobs last year, almost 6,000 more than 2014, and that those jobs added up to $5.3 billion in payroll income, up 3.9 percent.
Domestic tourists spent an estimated $63 million a day in Virginia last year. The Commonwealth had 41 million tourists in 2015.
“Tourism is one of the five largest industries in Virginia, and this report shows that travelers continue to contribute billions of dollars to our economy,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones in a statement.
The biggest increase in travel spending last year was spending on lodging, up 7.4 percent.
Virginia still uses “Virginia is for Lovers” in its tourism marketing. It has used that phrase for 47 years now, making it the longest-running state tourism slogan in the country.
