Prince George
County, VA

Domestic visitor spending generated $2.09 million in taxes for Hopewell/Prince George area in 2015

Contact:

Polly Elmore
PR Works, LLC
804-794-3631

Domestic visitor spending generated $2.09 million in taxes for Hopewell/Prince George area in 2015 – a 4% increase over 2014

Hopewell/Price George, VA, September 16, 2016 – Visitors to the Hopewell/Prince George community spent $98.52 million in 2015, an increase of 2% over visitor expenditures of $96.95 million in 2014. Local tourism-supported jobs totaled 980 for the combined communities, with a payroll of $18.57 million. Tourist expenditures generated local taxes totaling $2.09 million, an increase of 4 % over 2014.

This tourism data is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) taking trips of 50 miles or more away from home, as reported by the US Travel Association to the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).

During 2015, The City of Hopewell collected $980,000 in tourism-related taxes, an increase of 2% over 2014, and Prince George collected $1.11 million, an increase of 6% over 2014. Tax receipts came from $24.12 million in tourist spending in Hopewell (compared with $24.41 million in 2014) and $74.40 million in tourist spending in Prince George (compared with $72.54 million in 2014). Tourist-related employment in the City of Hopewell remained constant at 240 from 2013 and 2014 to 2015 and increased from 720 to 740 in Prince George County.

From July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, the staff at the Hopewell/Prince George Visitor Welcome Center, greeted and provided information to 5,178 visitors, including 251 from 13 foreign countries. H/PG staff answered 1,216 requests for information as well as distributing H/PG materials to certified visitor centers throughout Virginia, providing a tourism e-newsletter to area hotels and working closely with the Petersburg Area Regional Tourism Corporation (PART), the regional tourism marketing organization. In the spring, the H/PG Visitor Welcome Center was awarded a Virginia Tourism Grant and used it to hire a consultant, who completed a strategic plan, and do a benchmarking trip to Shepherdstown, WV, to share best practices and compare programs. The Hopewell/Prince George Visitor Welcome Center is managed by the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce under e performance contract with the City of Hopewell and County of Prince George.

Statewide tourism figures reach $23 billion

In 2015, tourism in Virginia generated $23 billion in travel spending. Tourism also supported 223,000 jobs in the Commonwealth and $1.6 billion in state and local taxes.

"Having a strong tourism industry is vital to job creation and economic growth in Virginia," said Governor Terry McAuliffe. "Travelers are coming to Virginia from across the country and the globe to experience our world-class restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, music festivals, oyster farms, beaches, mountains, and more. Our rich history, scenic beauty, vibrant arts, and burgeoning culinary scene make Virginia a destination like none other. It's easy to see why travelers are eager to discover why Virginia is for Lovers."

"Tourism is one of Virginia’s top five industries, and is an instant revenue generator for the Commonwealth,” said Todd Haymore, Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “With $23 billion in tourism revenues, 2015 was another record-breaking year for the Virginia tourism industry, thanks to the hard-working professionals across the state that help to showcase Virginia as a premier travel destination.”

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