$72 Million Spent by Visitors to Manassas in 2018 Helps the City Grow
For the ninth year in a row, visitors to the City of Manassas spent more than they did the previous year, according to data released by the United States Travel Association (USTA). Tourists spent $72.7 million in Manassas in 2018, a 2.3% increase from 2017! This influx has caused jobs to be created, local projects to be funded, and a city to become happier and more appealing to potential residents.
Creating Jobs and Revitalizing Downtown
In 2018, visitor spending was directly responsible for 583 jobs with an annual payroll of $12.3 million and $1.9 million in local tax receipts. Efforts by the City of Manassas to promote a strong tourism economy benefits local residents as well as visitors. In the 2018 Manassas Citizen Satisfaction Survey, 85% of residents loved the events and festivals put on in the historic downtown district. These events drove local and visiting traffic to the downtown area, helping the ongoing revitalization effort by spurring more small business investment and entrepreneurial activity. Since 2014, confidence in the city’s revitalization efforts, ability to attract and retain private sector jobs, and availability of employment have all increased.
Changing Perceptions
“This past year more than 450,000 people came to Manassas to visit our attractions or to enjoy our festivals, parades, events, and markets — that number increased 20% by 70,000 people from last year” said Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish. “In the most recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey, residents ranked Manassas 22% higher than the National average as a place to visit.”
Helping the city to grow as a tourist destination has also built on its reputation as an outstanding place to live; the population of Manassas has increased by 10.4% since 2010. Over 75% of residents plan to stay in Manassas for at least the next 2 years, and 80% have lived in Manassas for over 5 years already. Tourism spending also impacts the overall quality of life in Manassas, including supporting better public education, first responders, and infrastructure like better roads and utilities.
“Virginia’s tourism industry had a banner year in 2018, hitting new records and making important impacts on our communities across the Commonwealth” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. The nationally-famous Virginia Is For Lovers campaign is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and has paved the way for cities to create their own pro-Virginia campaigns like Move To Manassas, launched in 2018 to promote the City of Manassas as a great place to live for its neighborhoods, schools, jobs, and lifestyle.
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The Virginia Tourism Corporation receives its annual economic impact data from the U.S. Travel Association. The information is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from per-person trips taken 50 miles or more away from home. Detailed economic impact data by locality is available on www.vatc.org under Research.