Visitor Spending Reached $39.5 Million in Giles County in 2025
Tourism generated $36.2 billion in visitor spending in Virginia, marking a $1.1 billion increase over 2024
Direct visitor spending for Giles County reached $39.5 million, a 5.2 percent increase over 2024. Tourism supported 274 full-time equivalent jobs in Giles and generated $1.5 million 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. Giles county households saw a $382 savings. 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.
“We’re excited about our sustained tourism growth in Giles. Visitors to our communities enjoy our natural landscapes, small towns, and businesses catering to their unique and memorable experiences,” said Cora Gnegy, Tourism and Economic Development Director for Giles County. Giles specifically saw a 1.9 percent increase in retail spending. “This is of particular interest because retail and shopping were identified categories lacking within our market, so we focused on driving traffic to our shops and services increasing foot traffic and sales to our growing variety of locally owned and operated shops.”
“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.”
Giles saw growth across all segments measured including lodging, food and beverage, retail, and transportation. Giles saw over 74.7k unique visitors to our New River Water Trail boat landings and a total of 154.5k users of our Gary Eaton Memorial Walking Trail system, the public park walking trails throughout our communities.
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.
About Giles County
Giles County, Virginia is located in Southwest Virginia, with easy access to the New River, world class dining and lodging properties, and historical attractions for the entire family, Giles offers adventure in Virginia’s Mountain Playground®. Come find your playground at our Visitors Center located at 203 N Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134 or our Trail Center located at 2125 Doe Creek Road, Pembroke, VA 24136 or find us online at VirginiasMtnPlayground.org or by calling 540-921-2079.
About Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)
Virginia is for Lovers is one of the most iconic and recognizable travel brands in the world. Using that powerful brand equity, Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is charged with promoting the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination by showcasing all there is to love in a Virginia vacation. The dollars spent by travelers fuel the economy, provide jobs for Virginians, and improve communities across the state. Simply put, tourism helps make Virginia a great place to live, work, and vacation. Learn more at virginia.org.
