Professor finds large impact of tourism in Fayette County - WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and Sports

Did you know that taxes from tourism put an extra $244 back into the wallets of each household in Fayette County every year?  A University of Tennessee professor says his studies demonstrate just that.

Steve Morse, Ph.D., an economics professor, has been studying the impact of tourism on the New River Gorge Area for the past two months.  The area includes Fayette, Raleigh, Summers and Nicholas counties. 

He says that in the last decade, tourism spending in Fayette County is up more than 42%.  It brings more than $67 million a year and employs 730 people.

Morse credits this to the popularity of adventure tourism, or activities like zip-lining, mountain climbing and rafting.

"Anything outside with adventure is not a fad, it's a lifestyle," says Morse.  "Your assets play right into the role of adventure tourism and what people want to do in the area."

Morse presented his findings at a luncheon at Holiday Lodge in Oak Hill Thursday.

Morse also suspects the National Scouting Jamboree at The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Mt. Hope will also bring more tourism money to Fayette County.