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LEWISBURG   —   Greenbrier   County’s   tourism   industry   continues   to   rebound   from   the   flood   of   2016, according to figures shared this past week by the county’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. Direct   spending   in   the   county   by   tourists   in   2017   (the   latest   numbers   that   are   available   from   the   West Virginia Tourism   Office)   totaled   $232.5   million,   a   16.5   percent   increase   over   the   previous   year’s   tally   and the highest total in the last six years. Tourism   employment   in   2017   was   18.5   percent   higher   than   it   was   in   2016.   The   industry’s   2,690 employees   in   Greenbrier   County   earned   $111.3   million   in   2017,   a   $14.2   million   increase   over   2016’s figures. Both   local   government   and   state   government   revenue   from   tourism   showed   promising   signs   of   recovery after four years of steadily declining revenue. Statewide,   45,000   jobs   are   directly   supported   by   visitor   spending,   while   $4.1   billion   pours   into   cash registers all across West Virginia, thanks to spending by overnight and day visitors. “The   tourism   industry   in   Greenbrier   County   is   thriving   and   continuing   to   grow,”   said   CVB   executive director   Kara   D.   Dense   in   the   printed   annual   report   which   was   distributed   Tuesday.   “It’s   providing   more jobs,   increasing   the   tax   base   and   bringing   new   money   into   our   county,   proving   time   and   time   again   that tourism is economic development.” Meeting   on   Thursday,   the   CVB’s   14-member   board   of   directors   voted   to   add   three   more   seats   to   the table, Dense told The Register-Herald. One   of   those   seats   is   reserved   for   the   director   (manager)   of   Greenbrier   Valley Airport,   Stephen   Snyder, and   the   other   two   are   at-large   seats.   Dense   said   the   nominating   committee   is   now   working   to   identify candidates to present to the full board to fill those new seats. Despite   the   fact   that   the   town   of   Rainelle   lost   its   official   place   at   the   table   recently   due   to   a   lack   of occupancy   tax   revenues,   Dense   said,   “We   will   continue   to   market   that   area.   We’re   very   enthusiastic about   development   of   the   rail-trail   (Meadow   River   Trail).   Besides,   I’m   a   Rainelle   girl;   we   won’t   be neglecting that part of the county.” Dense   pointed   out   that   the   upcoming   year   holds   quite   a   number   of   opportunities   to   bring   more   visitors into Greenbrier County. She   cited   a   hoped-for   resurgence   of   the   annual   Alderson   4th   of   July   celebration,   which   will   no   longer face    stiff    competition    for    local    hotel    rooms    or    volunteers    from    the    former    Greenbrier    Classic    golf tournament   —   renamed A   Military   Tribute   at   The   Greenbrier   —   which   is   moving   from   July   to   an   autumn slot on the PGA Tour next year. In   addition,   an   all-school   reunion   for   50   years   of   graduates   from   Greenbrier   East   High   School   will   be held   the   last   weekend   of   June,   providing   lodging   establishments,   restaurants   and   other   visitor-friendly attractions   a   nice   bump   in   midsummer   business,   especially   when   combined   with   the   following   holiday weekend’s expected arrivals. “We’re very excited for the new year,” Dense said. ••• The   annual   report   also   includes   a   visitor   profile   compiled   from   information   collected   between   July   1, 2016,   and   June   30,   2018,   through   the   CVB’s   latest   conversion   study,   website   Google   Analytics   and Facebook insights. The   profile   reveals   that   the   typical   Greenbrier   County   visitor   is   between   the   ages   of   40   and   65,   college- educated,   and   works   in   management,   business,   education   or   health   care.   Most   are   in   the   area   for   a vacation or weekend getaway, and they are likely to stay in a hotel/motel or at The Greenbrier resort. What   visitors   like   most   about   Greenbrier   County,   the   profile   indicates,   are   the   friendly   people,   beauty and   scenery,   with   history,   peacefulness,   Bunker   tours,   The   Greenbrier,   shopping   and   outdoor   recreation also cited as positive factors.