Hatfield-McCoy

Guests:   Glen B. Gainer III – West Virginia State Auditor, Betty Carver - Commissioner of Tourism, West Virginia Department of Commerce, Jeff Lusk - Executive Director, Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority

Summary:  
Twelve million vacationers from all over the world travel to West Virginia for our pristine parks, whitewater rafting, skiing and major resorts each year. In 2006, these visitors brought in $3.97 billion of tourism revenue. Thousands of jobs and small businesses are sustained by tourism, and West Virginia has added a whole new vacation theme to the portfolio.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail system spans nine counties with over 500 trail miles offering varying degrees of difficulty. New businesses are spouting up all along West Virginia’s southwest with hotels, outfitters and restaurants revitalizing some of our most remote communities.

Auditor Gainer is joined in the studio by Commissioner Carver and Director Lusk to discuss this new industry and its impact on West Virginia tourism.