$9 billion
total economic impact
West Virginia tourism generated a reported $9 billion in total economic impact in 2024.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual reportWest Virginia visitor economy
West Virginia tourism statistics
A practical snapshot of the latest statewide visitor spending, jobs, tax revenue, and travel trends. Last updated September 15, 2026.
At a glance
Travel leaves a mark here.
West Virginia's roads, rivers, state parks, small towns, and mountain towns draw visitors who spend money with local businesses and carry home a connection to the places they found along the way. This page gathers the newest statewide figures in one place for writers, planners, and anyone following the Mountain State's visitor economy.
Every figure below comes from the West Virginia Department of Tourism's 2026 annual report, which reports 2024 economic figures unless a stat says otherwise.
$6.6 billion
direct traveler spending
Visitors spent $6.6 billion directly in West Virginia during 2024.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual report$18 million
average visitor spending per day
Average visitor spending worked out to $18 million per day in 2024.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual report1 in 15
jobs supported statewide
Tourism supported one out of every 15 jobs in West Virginia in 2024.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual report$1.1 billion
tax revenue generated
Tourism activity generated $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2024.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual report$859
tax burden reduced per household
Visitor spending reduced the reported tax burden by $859 per West Virginia household.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual report28%
growth in visitor spending since 2019
West Virginia visitor spending grew 28% from 2019 to 2024, compared with 12% nationally over the same period.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual report$40.9 million
West Virginia State Parks revenue
West Virginia State Parks reported more than $40.9 million in revenue during the annual-report period, a record for the park system.
Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism, 2026 annual reportWhat the numbers show
Travel reaches beyond the destination.
Visitor spending supports the places people experience on a trip, from overnight stays and meals to trail days, scenic drives, and the small businesses that give a town its character.
West Virginia is gaining ground.
The state's reported 28% growth in visitor spending since 2019 shows that the pull of the mountains, waterways, and familiar roads is reaching more people than it did before the pandemic.
Place is part of the purchase.
For visitors and former residents alike, the things that last tend to point back to a particular road, river, waterfall, or view. That is the connection Hillbilly Thredz is made to celebrate.
Sources and methodology
How to use this page
This is a reference page, not an estimate. The statistics are reported figures from the West Virginia Department of Tourism annual report, published in 2026. The report identifies Tourism Economics as the source for its statewide travel-spending and economic-impact figures.
Figures labeled as 2024 describe the report's 2024 tourism data. State Parks revenue is presented as reported in the same annual report. This page will be refreshed when the state releases a newer annual report or material data update.
Suggested citation
Hillbilly Thredz. “West Virginia Tourism Statistics.” Updated September 15, 2026. https://hillbillythredz.com/west-virginia-tourism-statistics