Tourism generated $36.2 billion in visitor spending in Virginia, marking a $1.1 billion increase over 2024
STAFFORD, Va. Sept 17, 2026 – Visitor spending for Stafford County reached $237,400,000, a 29.6% percent change over the past 5 years. Tourism supported 2,211 jobs in Stafford County and generated $11.4M in local tax revenue.
According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), tourism in Virginia generated a record-high $36.2 billion in visitor spending in 2025. Visitor spending increased 3.1 percent, or $1.1 billion, over the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth in visitor spending.
Virginia welcomed a record 46.6 million domestic and international overnight visitors, marking an increase of nearly one million visitors and the second consecutive year of record visitation. Visitors spent $99 million per day in Virginia, up from $96 million the previous year, with dining, recreation, and other experience-based spending fueling much of that growth as travelers continued to prioritize meaningful travel experiences.
Tourism directly generated more than $2.6 billion in state and local tax revenue over the previous year. Including tourism’s full ripple effect across Virginia’s economy, visitors saved the average Virginia household $1,020 in state and local taxes while helping fund schools, public safety, transportation, and other essential local services. Virginia’s tourism industry directly supported nearly 232,000 jobs, an increase of more than 2,700 jobs over the previous year and generated $10.6 billion in wages and salaries for Virginians.
Leisure travel remained the primary driver of Virginia’s tourism growth, accounting for 90 percent of overnight visitation as travelers increasingly sought high-value destinations closer to home. That trend helped fuel strong performance in Virginia’s leisure-focused regional destinations.
“Tourism is an important part of Stafford County’s economy and the quality of life we are building for our community,” said Deuntay Diggs, Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. “When visitors choose Stafford, their spending supports local restaurants, hotels, attractions and small businesses while generating revenue that helps support the services our residents rely on. Reaching $237 million in visitor spending demonstrates the growing strength of Stafford as both a destination and a place to live, work and do business.”
Stafford County’s tourism strategy is closely connected to its broader economic development efforts, recognizing that a strong visitor economy supports local businesses, employment, investment and quality of life. Located along the Interstate 95 corridor between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Stafford offers visitors a mix of history, outdoor recreation, sports, dining, craft beverages, arts and community experiences while providing convenient access to the greater Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg regions.
As part of its continued investment in the visitor economy, Stafford County Economic Development & Tourism has introduced a new tourism grant program designed to support local tourism-related businesses, organizations, events and initiatives that attract visitors and increase tourism activity in Stafford. The program provides another resource for local partners to expand their reach, strengthen visitor experiences and generate greater economic activity through tourism.
“Tourism is economic development, and these numbers demonstrate the meaningful impact visitors have across Stafford County,” said Liz Barber, Director of Stafford County Economic Development & Tourism. “Every hotel stay, meal, attraction visit and local purchase supports businesses, creates jobs and generates revenue within our community. As Stafford continues to grow, we are focused on strengthening the visitor experience, supporting our tourism partners and connecting tourism with our broader efforts to build a diverse and resilient local economy.”
Stafford County’s growing visitor economy is also generating significant local revenue and supporting continued investment in the community. In FY2026, Stafford County recorded $43.3 million in hotel sales and collected nearly $5 million in transient occupancy taxes, while the Stafford County Visitors Center welcomed 8,203 visits. Tourism revenues help fund local tourism initiatives and improvements to parks and fields, with these efforts supported through transient occupancy taxes paid by hotel guests rather than real estate or other local taxes paid by Stafford residents. In Fall 2025, Stafford County further strengthened its approach by integrating Tourism into the Department of Economic Development, creating a more unified strategy connecting the visitor experience with business attraction, economic growth and Stafford’s positioning as a premier place to live, visit and do business.
“For the fourth year in a row, we’re celebrating another record, and that kind of sustained growth speaks to the strength and resilience of Virginia’s tourism industry,” said President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation Rita McClenny. “From coast to cliff, visitors are discovering everything Virginia has to offer, and our tourism partners are delivering the experiences that keep them coming back. Around the clock and across the Commonwealth, our visitor economy never stops. With our hotel performance already outpacing the nation in 2026, we’re building on this momentum and looking forward to another strong year for Virginia tourism.”
VTC receives its annual economic impact data from Tourism Economics. The information is based on domestic and international visitor spending 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.