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Tourism added $9 billion to West Virginia’s economy last year. And Gov. Patrick Morrisey wants to see that grow.
Speaking to the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Morgantown Tuesday morning, Morrisey noted that the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve had a record 1.8 million visitors this past year. He said that was a nearly 50% increase since it became America’s 63rd National Park.
Harper’s Ferry also saw nearly 500,000 visitors last year, increasing more than 15% as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
“Our state is a gem unlike any other in America,” he said. “I want to emphasize that I view tourism as one of the fundamental ways we’re going to grow as a state.”
Morrisey noted that the state’s Tourism Works program has issued more than 10,000 microcredentials since March. These are short classes that help people learn more about the state so they can be ambassadors and guides for visitors.