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Virginia Tourism Accreditation Program.
International travel continues to be strong, Mr. Framme said.
James Wordsworth, chairman of the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, discussed the impact of tourism on the lodging, restaurant food sales and transportation components of the travel industry.
Total lodging sales in 1991 reached nearly $1.6 billion, a 1.9 percent decrease from 19k) resulting from the soft economy in 1991 and continued decrease in business travel, Mr. Wordsworth said.
“Low room occupancy rates, coupled with stable average room rates and tight credit have produced a lackluster lodging building environment that is likely to continue for several years,” he said.
In terms of food services, the retail sales of food in eating places, including restaurants, snack bars and catering services, totaled $4.7 billion in 1991, a 3.4 percent increase over 1990. According to the U.S. Travel Data Center, food services accounts for 26 cents of every travel dollar spent in Virginia.
The travel industry also contributes heavily to job growth, Mr. Wordsworth said. Travel industry employment has grown from 4.3 million to 5.9 million in the last decade.
The automobile transportation segment of Virginia’s travel industry accounts for 20 cents of every travel dollar spent in the state, which yields nearly a billion dollars annually in ftiel sales, Mr. Wordsworth said.
According to the Tourism Development Group’s visitor survey, 83 percent of all Virginia visitors traveled by private motor vehicle. Approximately onefourth of all gasoline is purchased by travelers.
87.7%