Tourism Continues to Fuel Montgomery County's Economy with Record Growth
Montgomery County, VA; September 10, 2025 - Tourism in Blacksburg – Christiansburg - Montgomery County continues to make a powerful impact. The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has released its
2024 Economic Impact of Tourism Report, and the numbers tell an exciting story: visitors are spending more, staying longer, and investing directly in our local economy.
In 2024,
direct visitor spending in Montgomery County totaled $293.7 million — a
5.1% increase over 2023. This growth reflects the strength of our region as both a travel destination and a place that warmly welcomes visitors year after year.
Here’s how visitors spent their dollars in Montgomery County last year:
- Lodging: $73.7 million
- Food & Beverage: $113.2 million
- Recreation: $40.3 million
- Retail: $33.5 million
- Transportation: $33 million
Beyond spending, tourism continues to be a major employer in our community. In 2024, tourism supported
3,044 jobs and generated
$148.9 million in labor income. Visitor activity also contributed
$18 million in local taxes, helping to fund services and quality-of-life initiatives that benefit all who call Montgomery County home.
This growth comes during a record-breaking year for Virginia tourism overall. Governor Glenn Youngkin
announced that tourism spending across the Commonwealth hit an all-time high of
$35.1 billion in 2024, up $2 billion from the year before.
“We are thrilled to see such strong growth in visitor spending across Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Montgomery County. To know that our community had a measurable impact on Virginia’s record-breaking tourism numbers is both exciting and rewarding. Our residents are truly what make this region a premier destination to promote and to visit. Looking ahead, we’re in the early stages of developing a new strategic plan to guide the future of tourism in our community. By strengthening partnerships with our hoteliers, restaurants, and other stakeholders, we will continue to provide high-quality experiences that keep visitors coming back to Montgomery County year after year.”
—
Samantha Livesay, Executive Director of Tourism.
Tourism is not just about visits, it’s about vitality. Every meal shared in our restaurants, every night booked in our hotels, every purchase in our shops, and every experience enjoyed at our points of interest contributes to the prosperity of Montgomery County.
As we look ahead to 2026 and the milestone celebrations of both Montgomery County’s 250th anniversary and Virginia’s 250th anniversary, the future of tourism here is brighter than ever.
