Cumberland County, together with many different areas in Virginia, reported a development in tourism in 2022. What brought about it? The reply is staycations. 

One of many extra apparent solutions is the top of the COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions went away and vaccines rolled out extra individuals now really feel comfy going out once more. Even among the destructive results of the pandemic are inflicting tourism development. 

Cumberland County Administrator Derek Stamey attributes the rising tourism partially to the present state of the financial system. Many households right this moment can’t afford the identical holidays they used to. Now, as an alternative of going off to take huge journeys to well-known locations, households are selecting to do staycations. 

“Lots of people are lastly discovering the importance of Cumberland,” mentioned Stamey. “Much more persons are staying house and doing staycations because of the financial system and exploring what’s in their very own yard.”

For these staycations, vacationers look to see what they’ll do by solely making a day journey. Which means that as an alternative of the annual journey to the seashore or a big amusement park, persons are noticing Cumberland County.

Cumberland has quite a lot of actions for guests to get pleasure from. Leaning extra on the character aspect, vacationers can go to Bear Creek Lake, Excessive Bridge Path and the James River. There are additionally historic websites together with Civil Conflict battlefields and the nation’s first name for independence. 

Most of this may be summed up within the county’s phrase, “Uncover Independence, Uncover Cumberland.” Based on Stamey, this can be a play on the primary name to independence in addition to the actions in Cumberland. With lots of the actions in nature, guests are free to set their very own schedule and go at their very own tempo which isn’t potential for each trip. 

Wanting forward

Going ahead, Stamey and the county wish to streamline a single service to have all the data individuals want when taking a look at Cumberland as a vacation spot. Since extra persons are taking a look at smaller journeys, ensuring there’s sufficient info to pique their curiosity is essential. The County is already engaged on its web site with movies and a booklet to let potential guests, in addition to residents, know what there’s to do within the County.

The County can be working to determine what property to spend money on for the long run. With a big curiosity in fishing, they wish to put in a public boat launch for fishing and boating. There’s additionally a undertaking for 3 new parks, with two already open, and making a connector path from Bear Creek Lake to the Courthouse Village. 

“I encourage everybody the primary factor to do is go to the web site and dive into what’s in your personal yard,” mentioned Stamey.