Every so often, someone sitting in a big-city office with nothing better to do, often media types with an agenda or an ax to grind, will take a shot at West Virginia, bringing up old stereotypes that ultimately reveal their own ignorance.
Well, the next time it happens, West Virginians can fire back with this: An independent study commissioned by the state Division of Tourism shows more people are traveling in West Virginia, and they’re not coming here to see moonshine stills, junked cars or some kind of “Beverly Hillbillies” stunt.
In today’s challenging economy, the fact that people are spending their disposable incomes, however limited they may be, in West Virginia speaks volumes about what the state has to offer to tourists.
According to the study, travel spending has increased during the past decade by $2 billion to $4.38 billion, a growth rate of 7.8 percent a year.
“The study reaffirms that, even with the challenging economy, tourism is growing in West Virginia,” state Commerce Secretary Kelly Goes said.
While counties with gaming facilities are the destination points for many travelers, the study revealed that tourists also have a dramatic impact on the economies of ski resort counties like Raleigh and Pocahontas. The study showed travelers make a $182.3 million impact on the Beckley area, which in addition to Winterplace Ski Resort offers such attractions as Glade Springs Resort and Conference Center, Burning Rock Off-Road Park, championship golf courses, national and state park areas, Theatre West Virginia, the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, etc., not to mention the nearby New River Gorge and whitewater rafting, and the Hatfield-McCoy trail system.
And in Pocahontas County, which boasts not only skiing and golf at Snowshoe but other attractions like Cass Scenic Railroad, the Green Bank observatory and the Greenbrier River Trail, tourism is responsible for 26.6 percent of the county’s jobs and 19.9 percent of its earnings.
The study indicated that visitor spending in 2008 directly supported 44,000 jobs with earnings of $912 million. Local and state tax revenues created by travel spending were $591 million in 2008, the equivalent of $799 per each household in the state.
“It (the study) is really a very clear way to illustrate the impact tourism has in West Virginia,” state Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver said. “I think it’s very important to gauge where we are and to keep our eyes open to the trends. Seeing what interests travelers helps us in hitting the bulls-eye with our advertising.”
And it only promises to get better, thanks in no small part to the efforts of visionaries like Jim Justice at The Greenbrier. Next summer, when the PGA Tour makes a stop in White Sulphur Springs, the world will have an opportunity to witness not only West Virginia’s beauty but also the down-to-earth hospitality of its people.
Maybe then the critics will shut up. Their audience is certainly shrinking.
— The Register-Herald
This editorial does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Times West Virginian editorial board.
Opinion
Impact from tourism only getting better
- Opinion
-
-
Quit playing games; ‘do what is right’ in renewing extension of the payroll tax cut
Once again, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are working on a deal to extend a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans beyond the end of the month.
And once again, debate has ensued. -
Superintendent, BOE must find accord if schools are to progress
We’re a little confused.
In October, an item appeared on the agenda of a Marion County Board of Education meeting to hire an administrative assistant of Human Resources and Student Support Services. But the item was pulled from the agenda with no public discussion about why, and the position was not filled. -
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
Many West Virginians would no doubt be shocked to learn that the outstanding correspondent from the Vietnam War was a West Virginia University graduate from Uniontown, Pa.
His name was George Esper, one familiar for many years around the WVU School of Journalism for his tenacious coverage of the Vietnam War that established him as a highly revered print reporter of the 20th century. -
Hiding state records has no place in a democracy
In private business and personal life, people may hide some activities, exercising their right of privacy. But government is different.
-
Results about Twitter, free from censorship
So Twitter announces that it will allow country-specific censorship. What followed was #outrage, #disbelief, #protest, #RighteousIndignation, #TwitterBlackout and #rage.
-
West Virginia must develop plan to fulfill highway needs
There is no dispute that improving West Virginia’s roads is one of the state’s biggest needs.
We use them daily — out of necessity and for pleasure.
They’re also vital to West Virginia’s economic health. -
Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.
-
Educational partnership a step in the right direction
Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
We think it’s even more than that. -
Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia
Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.
-
Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse
There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Quit playing games; ‘do what is right’ in renewing extension of the payroll tax cut
