Who We Are:

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Who We Are

• Tourism representatives from
• Chesapeake
• Hampton
• Isle of Wight and Smithfield
• Newport News
• Norfolk
• Norfolk International Airport
• Newport News / Williamsburg International Airport
• Portsmouth
• Suffolk
• Virginia Beach
• Williamsburg

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Who We Are

• We are an informal organization
• No operating budget
• No formal board of directors or bylaws

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What We Do

• Meet on a regular basis to share information and
  ideas for tourism promotion development.

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Goals
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Bring a more powerful voice to the tourism
industry promoting economic development for our
localities.
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Communicate to the local constituents the
importance and value of the tourism industry as a
major economic generator.
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Establish regional tourism data to support the
value of tourism and further our efforts to
enhance the tourism product.
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Promote Southeast Virginia as destination of
choice for leisure, business, group tours,
meetings and conventions
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Tourism is Competitive
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Tourism is Important
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The travel and tourism industry is the third
largest private employer by dollar volume in the
country today.
Travel Industry Association, The Economic Review
of Travel in America, 2007
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What Is Visitor

• A visitor is a person who either travels outside
  of his or her usual environment for a period of
  less than a year or who stays overnight in a
  hotel or motel. The person may travel for
  personal pleasure or on industry or government
  business.

As defined by the US Department of Commerce
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What is the usual environment?

• The usual environment is defined as the area
  within 50-100 miles of home, depending on
  available data sources.

As defined by the US Department of Commerce
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Impact On the Nation

• 740 billion in direct travel related
  expenditures including domestic and international
• 110 billion in tax revenue for local, state and
  federal governments
• 7.5 million in direct travel related jobs

U.S. Travel Association Travel and Tourism Works
for America 2008.
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Impact On the Commonwealth

• 18.7 billion in tourism spending
• 2.5 billion in tax revenue
• 1.2 billion in federal taxes
• 529.2 million in local taxes
• 731.6 million in state taxes
• 210,000 Virginians employed directly in the
  tourism industry.
• 4.32 billion in salaries and payroll.

Virginia Tourism Corporation Data 2007
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Tourism has been growing faster than the
economy as a whole in the region. James V. Koch
Professor of Economics, President Emeritus,
Old Dominion University November
2007
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Why Tourism Matters
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Tourism impacts practically all area businesses.
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• It contributes to quality of life thru
• Influx of tax revenue
• Creation of jobs
• And

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It also allows for the development and
enhancement of amenities such as attractions and
restaurants that tourists AND residents can
enjoy.
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Tourism is a sustainable industry that merits
investment, both public and private, to keep it
competitive and profitable.
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Our Initiatives
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• Regional Tourism Research and Data

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• Regional Tourism Research and Data
• Dedicated state funding source for state and
  individual tourism offices within the region

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• Regional Tourism Research and Data
• Dedicated state funding source for state and
  individual tourism offices within the region
• Regional convention / meeting business

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• Regional Tourism Research and Data
• Dedicated state funding source for state and
  individual tourism offices within the region
• Regional convention / meeting business
• Region wide approach to hosting media and meeting
  planners

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• Regional Tourism Research and Data
• Dedicated state funding source for state and
  individual tourism offices within the region
• Regional convention / meeting business
• Region wide approach to hosting media planners
• National Tourism Week

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If you would like more information, please
contact your citys tourism organization or
Elizabeth Dyer at [phone] or
info_at_visitsoutheastvirginia.org