Virginia’s international visitation growth blocks national average

Thursday, October 11, 2018

The Governor’s Office declares 1.1-million overseas tourists visited Virginia in 2017, spending around $2-billion. Governor Northam states that’s a 2.7% rate of growth, in comparison to the 1.3% national average. Data from Tourism Economics showed visitor spending increased from $1.7-billion in 2016 to a record $1.9-billion last year.

International visitation to Virginia increased at an even faster rate — at 6.9% far exceeding the national average 3.2%.The full Governor’s Office release follows:

 
Today Governor Ralph Northam declared that Virginia’s international visitation reached 1.1 million in 2017, with overseas visitors spending almost $2 billion. Virginia welcomed 2.7 percent more international visitors in 2017 than 2016, exceeding the United States growth rate of 1.3 percent, on the basis of data from Tourism Economics, as visitor spending rose from $1.7 billion to a record-breaking $1.9 billion. International visitation to Virginia increased at a rapid rate—6.9 percent for the Commonwealth compared to 3.2 percent for the United States.

 
“International tourism is a critical component of Virginia’s economic strategy, providing jobs for our citizens and driving millions of dollars into communities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Northam. “With our diverse tourism assets and global connectivity, the Commonwealth is well-positioned to capitalize on our forecasted growth in overseas visitation and become a leading destination for international travelers.”

 
By 2027, international visits to Virginia are anticipated to grow to 1.5 million, an 18 percent increase from last year, and have by now grown by 7 percent since 2010. Overseas visitation particularly has risen by 36 percent since 2010. Growth in visitation has been quite vigorous in maximum overseas markets including Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

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