Visitor spending reached $247.9 million on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 2023

Tourism generated $33.3 billion in visitor spending in Virginia, marking a nearly 10% increase over 2022

Visitor spending for the Eastern Shore of Virginia reached $247.9 million in 2023, a 6.7 percent  increase over 2022. Tourism-supported jobs in Accomack and Northampton Counties totaled more  than 1,800 while local tourism-related taxes were almost $9.9 million. Individually, Accomack  County’s total visitor expenditures were $179.6 million, an 8 percent increase over 2022.  Northampton County’s total visitor expenditures were $68.3 million, a 3.5% increase over 2022.  

According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), tourism in Virginia generated a record high  $33.3 billion in visitor spending in 2023, an increase of nearly 10% from 2022, exceeding pre pandemic levels by 14.7%. The tourism industry in Virginia directly supported over 224,000 jobs in  2023, an increase of over 13,000 jobs relative to 2022. Direct travel employment is now at 93% of  pre-pandemic employment levels. Visitor-facing industries accounted for more than 5% of all jobs  in Virginia last year. 

Travelers spent $91 million a day in Virginia in 2023, up from $83 million in 2022. Virginia visitors  directly drove $2.4 billion in state and local tax revenue, an increase of 9% from $2.2 billion in 2022.  Overnight visitation to Virginia increased by 1.4 million to 43.6 million visitors in 2023, up from 42.2  million in 2022, essentially reaching full recovery to pre-pandemic levels. 

“Tourism is a vital industry on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and I know that the Tourism Commission  is pleased with the continued growth of visitation to our unique region of Virginia,” said John Coker,  chair of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission and supervisor on the Northampton  County Board of Supervisors.  

All five categories of visitor spending in the Commonwealth have now fully recovered to pre pandemic levels and beyond. Those categories include recreation, transportation, lodging, food &  beverage, and retail. Recreation was the fastest growing category in 2023, up 12% over 2022 and  24% beyond pre-pandemic levels, more than any other category, as travelers continue to show a  strong preference for experiences. Throughout 2023, Virginia’s visitor economy benefited from  balanced hotel performance as business and group demand recovered strongly on weekdays  against a backdrop of stable leisure demand during weekends. 

VTC receives its annual economic impact data from Tourism Economics. The information is based  on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from per-person trips. Visitors included those who stayed overnight or traveled more than 50 miles to the destination. Detailed  economic impact data and methodology are available at vatc.org/research. 

Additionally, The Eastern Shore Tourism Commission recently completed a new strategic plan for  the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The plan outlines a vision for responsible tourism growth that will build  upon the positive economic impact highlighted in this report. The plan, developed through a  collaborative process involving local stakeholders and regional partners, identifies key strategies for  attracting visitors, enhancing the visitor experience, and maximizing tourism’s benefits to the  Eastern Shore economy. By implementing this plan, the Commission aims to build on the positive  trends highlighted in the report and create a more resilient and sustainable tourism industry for the  Eastern Shore. “I am incredibly proud to see this updated tourism plan, and very excited to see it  implemented. This plan could not have been accomplished without the collaborative efforts of so  many people from both Accomack and Northampton counties. It will help the entire Eastern Shore  for many years to come,” said Robert Sabbatini, Executive Director of the Eastern Shore of Virginia  Tourism Commission. The full plan is available at https://visitesva.com/industry/ 

Tourism on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is supported by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism  Commission. The mission of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission is to attract visitors,  stimulate economic development, and protect our region’s unspoiled ecosystems and local  communities. For more information, visit visitesva.com.