Visitor economy
Richmond (city)
Independent city · Central Virginia. Visitors spent $1.03B here in 2025, up 5.2% on 2024 and up 23.7% on 2019.
$1.03B
Visitor spending, 2025
7 of 133 localities
9,027
Jobs supported
6 of 133
$55M
Local taxes from visitors
7 of 133
$402M
Wages paid
$34M in state taxes
Ten years of visitor spending
Where the money went in 2025
Food and drink is the largest single category here at $417M, 40.3% of everything visitors spent.
- Lodging
- $225M21.8%
- Food and drink
- $417M40.3%
- Retail
- $113M10.9%
- Recreation
- $161M15.6%
- Transport
- $118M11.4%
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 | $1.03B | +5.2% | $225M | $417M | $113M | $161M | $118M | 9,027 | $55M |
| 2024 | $982M | +8.2% | $218M | $389M | $110M | $152M | $113M | 8,868 | $51M |
| 2023 | $908M | +9.0% | $199M | $359M | $103M | $142M | $105M | 8,605 | $48M |
| 2022 | $833M | +29.5% | $182M | $321M | $97M | $132M | $101M | 7,997 | $44M |
| 2021 | $644M | +38.4% | $133M | $244M | $92M | $98M | $77M | 6,437 | $36M |
| 2020 | $465M | -44.4% | $84M | $172M | $69M | $69M | $71M | 6,053 | $29M |
| 2019 | $835M | +3.2% | $183M | $313M | $104M | $136M | $100M | 9,504 | $45M |
| 2018 | $809M | +7.9% | $180M | $296M | $105M | $132M | $96M | 9,439 | $44M |
| 2017 | $750M | +5.3% | $165M | $270M | $99M | $126M | $90M | 8,991 | $41M |
| 2016 | $712M | — | $157M | $256M | $95M | $117M | $85M | 8,765 | $40M |
How that compares
- 2.85% of all visitor spending in Virginia, which totalled $36.20B in 2025.
- 16.3% of the Central Virginia region, which took $6.33B.
- Ranks 7 of 133 Virginia counties and independent cities by visitor spending, and 7 of 133 by the local taxes that spending returns.
- Statewide spending is +3.1% on 2024; Richmond (city) is +5.2%.