State honors tourism industry

West Virginia has a solid reputation of wild and wonderful outdoor fun, and this week the state is celebrating it.

Businesses nationwide are observing the 25th anniversary of National Tourism Week under the theme, "Discover Great American Traditions." With the price of gas quickly approaching $4 a gallon, many West Virginians may be planning to stay in the state during their vacations.

"I know a lot of West Virginians are concerned about the costs of gas and how it will affect their vacation budgets," Gov. Joe Manchin said in a prepared statement. "I encourage our families to look right here at home for a great new vacation idea that could save them on money or gas."

The West Virginia tourism industry employs about 44,000 people and generates $3.97 billion to the state's economy. Nationwide, approximately 7.5 billion people are employed by the travel industry.

The tourism industry is constituted of many industries, including, hotels, meeting facilities, attractions, restaurants and more.

"Because of my job, I'm really lucky to get to travel across our beautiful state," Manchin said. "And each time I travel to one of our great small towns or terrific state parks or resorts, even if I've been there before, I'm amazed at the new things I discover with each visit."

Tourists and residents of West Virginia seeking more information can call 800-CALL-WVA or visit the official Web site of West Virginia Tourism, www.callwva.com, which offers travel planning and contact lists for tourism spots in the state.