evidence: WVPA Sharing Gov. Justice announces record $7 billion annual tourism impact for West Virginia in 2022 on September 16, 2023 More in WVPA Sharing: Vandalia Hospitals Awarded for Commitment to Excellence October 5, 2024 Column: Breast Cancer Awareness is a time for action October 5, 2024 Gov. Justice announces launch of West Virginia Paranormal Trail October 4, 2024 Tourism industry reports more than 53,000 West Virginia jobs, one out of every 16 in the state WV Press Release SharingDAVIS, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice this week joined more than 300 tourism-industry members to announce West Virginia’s best tourism year ever, with the industry’s economic impact exceeding $7 billion last year. That number represents a 17% increase in visitor spending compared to pre-pandemic levels, far higher than the United States’ overall 1% post-pandemic tourism recovery.West Virginia saw more visitors last year, and those visitors spent more money than they had in previous years. Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company that measures tourism spending and economic impact, found that visitors to the state had direct spending of $5.3 billion last year, an all-time high.