CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tourism is takes center stage in Charleston starting Sunday. The city is hosting the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, a three-day event expected to draw more than 300 travel and tourism workers from around the state.
State Tourism Commissioner Amy Goodwin stressed tourism brings in $5.1 billion to West Virginia each year and creates 46,000 jobs.
“It’s an opportunity to highlight a key role these industry members and tourism professionals all over West Virginia play in the economic development of the Mountain State,” said Goodwin.
There’s some new research that will be released during the conference that has to do with who’s traveling West Virginia, what they’re doing and what they’d like to do in the future. The commissioner said the event is a chance for everyone to learn a little something.
“We’re looking at the person sitting beside us saying, “How can I help you grow your business? How can I help to increase the amount of visitors into the Mountain State?'”
Those taking part in the conference at the Marriott come from wide backgrounds.
“Everyone from frontline employees who are working the desk to the CEO of some of our companies from around the state, so this is an extremely diverse population that’s coming in,” according to Goodwin.
There will be panel discussions, workshops and guest speakers. The commissioner stressed there will also be some fun events to highlight the city of Charleston.