Tourism in and around Richmond is a multi-billion-dollar industry that continues to grow, driving the regional economy.

Visitors spent an estimated $3.9 billion in the Richmond region last year, a 4.7% increase from the year before, Richmond Region Tourism , the area's tourism agency reports.

Their spending supports more than 29,600 jobs, a total that grew by more than 325 last year.

Tourism-related spending in lodging, food and beverage, retail, recreation and transportation categories generated $183.8 million in local taxes and $110.2 million in state tax revenues.

While the biggest thing tourists do when visiting Richmond remains the quiet mainstay of tourist spending nationwide — visiting family — a stepped-up effort to woo out-of-towners has brought new events and expanded som

See Full Page