The Patrick County Tourism industry has grown to $24.65 million in year 2011 as reported by the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

The payroll in Patrick County amounts to $5.21 million for year 2011. That is 260 people employed in the industry in Patrick County. This is a very significant growth since last reported. This amounts to a growth of 7.8% in tourism expenditures and growth of 2% in payroll dollar expenditures. This compares favorably with Virginia in total which shows a growth of 8% in tourism expenditures. Governor Bob McDonnell’s recent announcement that tourism in Virginia became a $20 billion industry in 2011 was good economic news not just for the Commonwealth as a whole. Data released by the United States Travel Association reveals that every locality in Virginia posted an increase in tourism revenue last year. The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is the state agency responsible for marketing Virginia to visitors and promoting the Virginia is for Lovers brand. Virginia is for Lovers is the longest-running state tourism slogan in the country. Virginia is for Lovers stands for love - pure and simple, and promotes the state as the ideal destination for loved ones to completely connect on a great vacation. Virginia is for Lovers was named one of the top ten tourism marketing campaigns of all time by Forbes and was inducted into the National Advertising Walk of Fame in 2009. Virginia was recently named one of the top 10 wine travel destinations in the world for 2012 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.