Visitor economy
Covington
Independent city · Virginia Mountains. Visitors spent $18M here in 2025, up 1.9% on 2024 and up 1.1% on 2019.
$18M
Visitor spending, 2025
108 of 133 localities
183
Jobs supported
102 of 133
$0.7M
Local taxes from visitors
110 of 133
$5.5M
Wages paid
$0.5M in state taxes
Ten years of visitor spending
Where the money went in 2025
Retail is the largest single category here at $6.8M, 38.6% of everything visitors spent.
- Lodging
- $2.3M13.1%
- Food and drink
- $4.3M24.5%
- Retail
- $6.8M38.6%
- Recreation
- $1.8M10.1%
- Transport
- $2.4M13.8%
Lodging includes short-term rentals and second-home spending. Transport covers both ground and air.
Year by year
| Year | Total | Change | Lodging | Food | Retail | Recreation | Transport | Jobs | Local tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $18M | +1.9% | $2.3M | $4.3M | $6.8M | $1.8M | $2.4M | 183 | $0.7M |
| 2024 | $17M | +0.7% | $2.3M | $4.1M | $6.8M | $1.8M | $2.4M | 182 | $0.7M |
| 2023 | $17M | +6.0% | $2.3M | $3.9M | $6.8M | $1.8M | $2.4M | 181 | $0.7M |
| 2022 | $16M | +4.2% | $2.2M | $3.6M | $6.3M | $1.7M | $2.4M | 169 | $0.7M |
| 2021 | $16M | +32.1% | $2.3M | $3.5M | $6.1M | $1.6M | $2.2M | 168 | $0.6M |
| 2020 | $12M | -32.5% | $1.7M | $2.9M | $4.4M | $1.1M | $1.7M | 165 | $0.5M |
| 2019 | $18M | -0.5% | $2.9M | $4.2M | $6.5M | $1.7M | $2.2M | 215 | $0.7M |
| 2018 | $18M | -0.8% | $2.8M | $4.3M | $6.5M | $1.7M | $2.3M | 217 | $0.7M |
| 2017 | $18M | +3.3% | $2.8M | $4.5M | $6.5M | $1.7M | $2.3M | 219 | $0.7M |
| 2016 | $17M | — | $2.6M | $4.3M | $6.4M | $1.6M | $2.2M | 217 | $0.7M |
How that compares
- 0.05% of all visitor spending in Virginia, which totalled $36.20B in 2025.
- 1.4% of the Virginia Mountains region, which took $1.24B.
- Ranks 108 of 133 Virginia counties and independent cities by visitor spending, and 110 of 133 by the local taxes that spending returns.
- Statewide spending is +3.1% on 2024; Covington is +1.9%.