Doing Business in Nelson County: Nelson County Traveler Spending Increases 6.8%

Nelson County Traveler Spending Increases 6.8%

Travelers Bring Big Bucks to Nelson County

Lovingston, VA – Everyone knows tourism is big business in Virginia, with $16.5 billion spent in the Commonwealth by travelers in 2005. But as tourism is the primary economic engine for Nelson County, officials track its economic impact very carefully .

A recent economic impact study conducted by the Travel Industry Association for the Virginia Tourism Corporation showed that during 2005, domestic travelers spent $151,981,184 on transportation, lodging, food, entertainment and recreation in Nelson County. This direct spending by travelers marks a 6.8 percent increase over the traveler-spending estimate of $142,270,773 for 2004. Total traveler spending for the Commonwealth topped $16.5 billion in 2005.

Direct spending by domestic travelers in Nelson County supported 1,722 full-time and seasonal jobs, which in turn generated more than $28,669,065 in wages and salaries. Local taxes, including local sales and property taxes generated $4,686,120 for Nelson County

Locality taxes collected from Virginia travelers statewide totaled $473.9 million in 2005. These statewide taxes at the locality level are enough to pay the salary of 14,313 elementary and secondary school salaries, with $33,109 as the average annual salary.

State tax revenues, including state sales taxes and taxes on personal and corporate income, generated from travelers increased 3.1 percent from 2004 to $7,361,822 in 2005. According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, state tax revenues generated by tourism are enough to pay for the salaries and benefits of more than 11,350 new state police officers or more than 1,800 miles of pavement (the distance from Virginia Beach to Denver, CO) or the education of more than 78,000 Virginia elementary or high-school students.

For more details on The Economic Impact of Domestic Travel Expenditures on Nelson County- 2005, contact Maureen Corum, Director of Tourism and Economic Development at 434-263-7015.