Tourism in Hampton, Virginia has experienced a surge in years. According to released data from the Virginia Tourism Corporation Hampton surpassed its pandemic tourism revenue in 2022.
As reported by The Virginian Pilot, the Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau described the tourism industry in Hampton as “thriving.” The data from the Virginia Tourism Corporation reveals that visitors spent $300.6 million in 2022 surpassing both the $268.2 million spent in 2021 and the pre-pandemic figure of $218.8 million recorded in 2019. With an increase in visitors, job opportunities have also seen a rise in Hampton. In 2022, the tourism sector supported 2,857 jobs compared to 2,426 jobs in 2021. Additionally, tourism contributed over $9 million to state tax receipts and nearly $16 million to tax revenue. These tax revenues are generated through sources such as meals, retail sales, hotel accommodations and property rentals.
Expressing her excitement about these trends and remarkable growth within Hampton, Mary Fugere—Director of the Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau—stated in a news release; “We are delighted to witness impressive progress and encouraging developments within Hampton’s tourism industry. These figures exemplify our city’s ability to attract visitors on a scale while highlighting the work and dedication of our local businesses who consistently provide exceptional experiences for travelers.”
The Bureau went on to describe the main attractions for tourists in Hampton. The city’s historic landmarks like Fort Monroe National Monument are a draw for some, while cultural institutions like the Hampton University Museum and Hampton History Museum are of more interest to others. Hampton’s facilities such as the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex and the Hampton Roads Convention Center also draw in many tourists.
Overall tourism in Virginia generated $2.2 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2022. The industry supported 210,721 jobs and accounted for $30.3 billion in travel spending. Other cities across the state saw increases in tourism, including Newport News. Direct visitor spending in Newport News reached $333.4 million in 2022, a 10.3% increase from 2021. Unlike Hampton, this did not exceed pre-pandemic numbers from 2019. Despite this loss in revenue, the city’s officials were hopeful that tourism revenue would continue to grow.
“Tourism is an important industry and economic engine in Newport News,” said Mayor Phillip Jones in a news release. “We are thrilled to see increases in revenue and employment numbers, both of which can be attributed to our refocused efforts on marketing breakthrough experiences to visitors and residents.”
Newport News recently launched a new tourism program as part of this marketing push. The Breakthrough Experience Pass is a free program designed to increase tourism. The pass enables residents and visitors to check in at popular locations throughout the city, rack up points, and win city-branded prizes like lanyards, stickers, mouse pads, cups, and more. The twenty different locations on the pass include city parks, street murals, museums, and historic sites. City spokesperson Sarah Bowman told The Virginian-Pilot that the city intends to keep adding new sites to the pass as the program grows. Interested parties can check out Newport News’ official website for more information on how to get started on their Breakthrough Experience.
