Gov. Patrick Morrisey lauded Wes Virginia tourism efforts that generated what he characterized as a record $9.4 billion economic impact, with 78 million visitors, $6.8 billion in visitor spending and 2% overnight-traveler growth.
Morrisey made his remarks at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. His administration touted the numbers as a major announcement.
“Today, I am thrilled to announce, because of all of your great work and the work of our tourism department, that West Virginia’s tourism economy has reached unprecedented heights, generating a brand new, all-time record total economic impact of $9.4 billion,” Morrisey told those gathered at the conference.
“And when people come, they invest and they spend. And we just spent last year 6.8 billion dollars in tourism right here in West Virginia. When I say we, I’m talking about the 78 million people who come in. It means a lot. That’s a lot of new money that’s going into our local economies, and I think it makes a big difference.”
Tourism leadership in state government has gone through a big change in recent months.
Chelsea Ruby, who led state government’s tourism efforts for about a decade, departed the role in July.
The governor named former state Delegate Kayla Kessinger to lead West Virginia Tourism last month.
New to the role, Kessinger told the crowd at the tourism conference that she pledges to “learn to listen” — to visit, meet, hear from and learn from tourism operators statewide and understand how their attractions work.
“I don’t believe that this next chapter of West Virginia tourism gets written in Charleston alone, but it gets written by all of you, all of us together,” she said. “We get to write this story together.”
The governor described additional infrastructure enhancements and private-public partnerships up ahead.
“Now, of course, when you break records, you can’t rest on your laurels,” he said.
“We’re going to keep raising the bar and growing, and that means investing and expanding in tourism and expanding in our state parks as well.”
One initiative is a $1.8 million investment at Twin Falls Resort State Park in Wyoming County for comprehensive cabin renovations and heating and cooling upgrades for the lodge, along with an additional $475,000 for upgraded cabin interiors and comfortable mattresses.
“So, Twin Falls, you get a shot in the arm today,” Morrisey said.
Moreover, the governor said a public-private partnership next spring will introduce 32 upscale canvas-tent sites for “glamping,” which refers to glamorous camping. The initiative features hotel-style furnishings across four state parks: Pipestem, Blackwater Falls, Lost River and Summersville Lake.
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park will mark the grand opening of the new Slabtown Campground this month, featuring 100 new sites, equestrian hookups with corrals and full amenities along the Greenbrier River Trail.
The historic Hill Hall Hotel project has meant restoring a century-old building in downtown Fayetteville near the New River Gorge with the aim of being a boutique destination.
And the governor described a new campground at the Lost River State Park in Hardy County opening up next spring with 35 sites.
“These are just a sample of so many of the great things that we’re doing,” Morrisey said, “and all of these tourism announcements come at a time when West Virginia really is fueling its comeback.”