Virginia Hosts Inaugural Global Travel Forum

The Virginia Tourism Corporation brought international buyers and trade media together for a two-day forum followed by statewide familiarization visits.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Australia and New Zealand

Empty two-lane road curving through green farmland toward distant blue mountains beneath a pale sky, with a wooden split-rail fence along the edge. — The Virginia Tourism Corporation hosted its inaugural Global Travel Forum in Tysons, then took nearly 40 international buyers and media on statewide familiarization visits. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Virginia Tourism Corporation hosted its inaugural Come Find Your Virginia Global Travel Forum, beginning in Tysons, Northern Virginia. Nearly 40 buyers and media representatives then traveled across Virginia on familiarization visits after the two-day program.

Why it matters

The forum connected local tourism suppliers with international tour operators and journalists from six key inbound markets, creating direct pathways for Virginia destinations to reach overseas travelers. For Virginia readers, the effort aims to expand the state's visibility in global travel markets.

The forum recorded more than 500 direct business meetings and hosted nearly 40 buyers and media representatives across six key inbound markets. No prior forum or baseline figures were reported, and outcomes such as bookings were not yet measured.

The players

Virginia Tourism Corporation

The state's official tourism marketing agency, which hosted the inaugural Come Find Your Virginia Global Travel Forum through its Global Markets Division.

Ink Global

A sponsor of the inaugural forum that supported the event alongside United Airlines.

United Airlines

A major U.S. airline that sponsored the inaugural forum, connecting international visitors to Virginia destinations.

The details

Hosted by the Virginia Tourism Corporation's Global Markets Division, the forum brought together destination marketing organizations, tourism suppliers, international representatives, tour operators and trade media. Participants received market updates from representatives based in the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Australia and India, and local suppliers took part in the International Inbound Travel Association's Inbound Insider Steps to Success program.

The two-day forum began in Tysons, Northern Virginia, with one-on-one business appointments and briefings on the second day.
Familiarization visits followed the two-day program, hosted by Visit Williamsburg, Visit Virginia Beach, City of Lynchburg and Visit Loudoun.

Travel Outlook

The forum reflects the inbound international travel strategy used by destinations seeking overseas visitors, with Virginia's suppliers trained through the International Inbound Travel Association's program. Its six-market reach positions the state within a broader push to attract long-haul travelers from Europe, Canada, Australia and India.

Travelers planning trips to Virginia can look to destinations like Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Lynchburg and Loudoun, which hosted the familiarization visits. The forum signals increased outreach to overseas markets, which may shape future tour packages and visitor promotions.

The takeaway

International tour operators and journalists gained firsthand experience of Virginia's destinations, which can translate into future travel itineraries and coverage. Travelers interested in global inbound tourism trends may find this forum a useful example of how regional destinations court overseas visitors.