RICHMOND, Va. — Visitors spent a record $3.7 billion in the Richmond region in 2023, a 7.4% increase over the prior year, according to Richmond Region tourism. Officials said the region’s varied attractions, history, cultural scene, and sports tourism all contributed to the increase.
The localities encompassing Richmond Region Tourism brought in more than $176 million in local tax dollars, the organization said.
Henrico brought in the most director tourist spending last year, officials said. Here is a breakdown of how much each locality brought compared to 2022 and how many jobs the industry supports:
| Locality | 2023 | 2022 | Percent Change | Employment | State taxes | Local taxes |
| Chesterfield | $601.3 | $582.6 | 3.2% | 6,305 | $18.5 | $29.8 |
| Hanover* | $229.2 | $223.0 | 2.8% | 2,354 | $7.0 | $10.9 |
| Henrico | $1,876.0 | $1,718.2 | 9.2% | 10,480 | $45.5 | $81.3 |
| New Kent | $29.4 | $29.9 | -1.7% | 211 | $0.8 | $1.2 |
| Colonial Heights | $105.1 | $102.8 | 2.3% | 1,080 | $3.3 | $5.2 |
| Richmond | $908.0 | $833.3 | 9.0% | 8,605 | $29.9 | $47.9 |
Katherine O’Donnell, the president and CEO of Richmond Region Tourism, said they see tourism as a force for good…