From King George Department of Economic Development & Tourism
King George County has received $8,243 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant Program, a new grant made available to Virginia’s Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) across the Commonwealth that have been heavily impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic to fund recovery marketing initiatives. $866,504 in marketing grant funds were awarded to 90 Destination Marketing Organizations as part of the DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant program.
King George County will use the VTC WanderLove grant funds to encourage travelers to take the road less traveled. Our campaign will focus on a “Take the Back Roads” theme promoting local gems, taking the backroads of the County to explore and find your WanderLOVE of Virginia.
“This is a great campaign and a great opportunity for King George to show why residents love this County some much. People want to get out of the house to travel but do it as safely as possible. A short road trip to a State park, or some recreational outdoor location is very appealing right now and King George has some of the best locations in the region.” Nick Minor, Economic Development and Tourism Director, King George County.
As Virginia begins reopening, there is a lot of pent-up demand for leisure travel and people are seeking safe, close-to-home destinations that allow for social distancing and access to open spaces. With this in mind, the WanderLove campaign provides travel inspiration for road trips, outdoor recreation, hidden gems, small towns, and Virginia’s signature LOVEworks program.
“Virginia tourism is a critical sector of our economy and has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “Getting travelers back on the road and spending money in our cities and towns is one of the fastest ways to inject dollars back into our economy and our communities. The Virginia Tourism Corporation’s DMO WanderLove Recovery Grants gives localities the ability to market their destination as safe and welcoming when visitors are ready to resume travel.”
Tourism is one of the Commonwealth’s largest economic engines, with visitors to King George County spending more than $23,732,591 in 2018, supporting 236 work opportunities and contributing $1,744,579 in local and state tax revenue. The tourism and hospitality industries have also been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic, experiencing decreased revenue and job loss, along with the temporary closure of many tourism-related businesses. A revived tourism economy can help spur new economic activity and inject critical funds back into Virginia communities.
King George County is a rural locality located within the Commonwealth of Virginia, making up 183 square miles. Nestled between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, the county possesses 131 miles of shoreline and miles of scenic, tree-canopied backroads. Two major thoroughfares traverse the county (Route 3 and US 301). US 301’s Average Daily Traffic sees about 26,000 vehicles, which is expected to increase with the replacement of the Harry Nice Bridge. This will bring an increase in traffic volume to our locality and will contribute to increased tourism within the area.
About Virginia Tourism Corporation
Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel and film destination. In 2018, visitors to Virginia spent $26 billion, which supported 234,000 work opportunities and contributed $1.8 billion in state and local taxes. In 2019, Virginia is for Lovers celebrates its 50th anniversary. To learn more, visit virginia.org
