HAMPTON, Va. — Author's note: The above video is on file from March 3, 2021.
Two organizations in Hampton have received tourism grants to help the economy bounce back after the COVID-19-related downturn.
The Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau and the Hampton History Museum Association got $10,000 each from the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Recovery Marketing Leverage Program. The program matches institution dollars used for marketing with state grants.
The museum association will use the funds for marketing materials and promote Coastal Virginia's Civil War Trails.
The Convention & Visitor Bureau will use the funds to introduce the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex through marketing efforts. The Aquaplex is a state-of-the-art facility that is set to open in the summer of 2022, according to the city. Their aim is to attract visitors that will ultimately help hotels, shops, and restaurants in the city.
“The tourism and hospitality industries have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, experiencing decreased revenue and job loss, along with the temporary closure of many tourism-related businesses,” said Gov. Ralph Northam. “These funds will help to revive Virginia’s tourism economy, which will help spur new economic activity and inject critical funds back into its communities.”
According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, visitors to the state spent $27 billion in 2019.