The CVB said Greenbrier County was the fifth most visited location in West Virginia, behind four counties that offer table games.

This past fall, Greenbrier County voters approved gaming for overnight guests at The Greenbrier resort. A temporary casino opened in early October.

“The tourism industry is a vital economic driver in Greenbrier County,” said Kara Dense, executive director of the CVB. “These statistics show how important tourism is to our county’s businesses and families.”

Among the CVB's findings:

Tourism supports 2,460 jobs and nearly $87 million in earnings;

Tourism generates over $1.8 million in local government revenue and $14.2 million in state revenue;

Visitors spent $214 million spent in 2008;

Tourism saves each household in the state over $700 in taxes each year.