TOURISM RELATED EXPENDITURES AND JOBS INCREASE IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY & CITY OF MANASSAS

Monday, September 26, 2016

                                                                            PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Dan Cook | DCook@DiscoverPWM.com | 571-482-7043 | High resolution photography and logo available.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOURISM RELATED EXPENDITURES AND JOBS INCREASE IN
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY & CITY OF MANASSAS

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA – September 26, 2016 – Discover Prince William & Manassas, a tourism marketing and promotion arm for Prince William County and the City of Manassas, is pleased to announce that Prince William County, the City of Manassas, as well as the Commonwealth of Virginia, experienced an increase in tourism related economic spending in 2015, according to the latest data released by the U.S. Travel Association. According to the research, tourism in Virginia generated $23 billion in travel spending. Tourism, supported 223,000 jobs and $1.6 billion in state and local taxes.

Tourism in Prince William County generated over $541.5 million in travel related expenditures in 2015, an increase of 3.1% compared to 2014 and supported 6,223 jobs, a 5.6% increase from 2014. Visitor related tax receipts provided $8.4 million dollars and provided over $62 in tax savings per household to residents of the county. Tourism revenue in the City of Manassas generated over $67 million in expenditures, up 0.1% when compared to 2014 and continued to support 575 jobs, a 0.5% increase vs. 2014. Visitor spending related tax receipts provided over $1.7 million dollars to the City of Manassas and provided nearly $69 in tax savings per household to residents of the city.  According to a 2015 Texas A&M University Study conducted of Discover Prince William & Manassas’ impact on tourism and visitor spending, visitors to Prince William County spend an average $580 per visitor party with $76.6 million in spending attributable to the efforts of Discover Prince William & Manassas. Visitors to the City of Manassas spend an average $396 per visitor party with $7 million in visitor expenditures attributable to the agency.

Among the 135 counties and cities throughout the commonwealth, Prince William County ranks tenth in total visitor expenditures and shares that ‘Top 10’ ranking with other tourism leaders including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Richmond and others.  In addition, Prince William County ranks sixth in the Commonwealth for counties exceeding 3% growth or more in tourism related economic spending.

“Spending by visitors in Prince William County and the City of Manassas is a vital part of our local economy. For every dollar a visitor spends in our area, it delivers an economic impact to our restaurants, shops, and businesses while increasing tax revenue that support roads, schools, parks and services for residents,” stated Ann Marie Maher, President/CEO of Discover Prince William and Manassas. “We are committed to reaching visitors domestically and internationally with strategic marketing, advertising,

sales and public relations tactics that impact and increase awareness of the Prince William & Manassas brand to the benefit of economic development, investment, visitor spending and tax revenues,” she added.

“Having a strong tourism industry is vital to job creation and economic growth in Virginia," said Governor McAuliffe. "Travelers are coming to Virginia from across the country and the globe to experience our world-class restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, music festivals, oyster farms, beaches, mountains, and more. Our rich history, scenic beauty, vibrant arts, and burgeoning culinary scene make Virginia a destination like none other. It's easy to see why travelers are eager to discover why Virginia is for Lovers."

The Commonwealth of Virginia invests an average $25.8 million annually in tourism, marketing its ‘Virginia Is For Lovers” brand to both domestic and overseas visitors.  Prince William County invests an average $1.2 million in tourism marketing through Discover Prince William & Manassas of the projected $3.5 million in county hotel taxes collected annually.

Some of the top tourist attractions in Prince William and Manassas are the Manassas National Battlefield Park, Leesylvania State Park, Historic Downtown Manassas, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Jiffy Lube Live, Potomac Mills, Historic Occoquan, and Prince William Forest Park among many others. Prince William and Manassas is also home to a burgeoning sports tourism, food, drink, artisan and agri-tourism scene that appeals to locals and visitors alike.

About Discover Prince William & Manassas:

Discover Prince William & Manassas is the Convention and Visitors Bureau marketing Prince William County and Manassas, Virginia as a destination for leisure and business travelers, group tours, weddings, conferences, meetings and events. For more information on Discover Prince William & Manassas, visit DiscoverPWM.com or follow on Twitter @DiscoverPWM.


About the Virginia Tourism Corporation:

The Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency responsible for marketing Virginia to visitors and promoting the Virginia is for Lovers brand. Virginia is for Lovers is the longest-running state tourism slogan in the country. Virginia is for Lovers stands for love, pure and simple, and promotes the state as the ideal destination for loved ones to completely connect on a great vacation. Virginia is for Lovers was named one of the top 10 tourism marketing campaigns of all time by Forbes and was inducted into the National Advertising Walk of Fame in 2009.

###

 

 

Complete Site Directory