Lynchburg Tourism Spending Topped $272 Million in 2025

The city saw a significant boost in visitor activity last year, supporting thousands of local jobs.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Philanthropy

Historic brick clock tower on a quiet street in Lynchburg, Virginia, captured during golden hour. — Tourists spent $272.4 million in Lynchburg during 2025, a fiscal milestone that supported over 3,000 local jobs and provided significant tax revenue relief. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you feel local tourism growth in your area makes life better for residents?

Tourists spent $272.4 million in Lynchburg during 2025, a figure that bolstered the local economy. This influx of visitors supported 3,074 jobs and generated $16.9 million in tax revenue for the city.

Why it matters

The consistent growth in tourism provides substantial relief to residents by offsetting local tax burdens. By focusing on major events, the city has successfully turned visitor traffic into a key pillar of its fiscal health.

Tourism generated $16.9 million in local tax revenue during 2025 while supporting 3,074 jobs. The sector maintained an average annual growth rate of 5.8% over the five-year period ending in 2025.

The players

Liberty University

This private evangelical university is a major institution in Lynchburg that draws significant visitor traffic through its annual commencement ceremonies.

The details

Lynchburg successfully increased its appeal by prioritizing sports tourism and hosting high-profile gatherings. Notable events that drew crowds to the area included the Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship, Liberty University commencement, and the Virginia 10 Miler.

Average annual tourism growth reached 5.8% between 2020 and 2025.
Tourists spent $272.4 million in Lynchburg throughout 2025.
Tourism-related initiatives are in development for late 2026 and 2027.

Market Landscape

This performance mirrors the broader state economic trend where the Virginia household tax savings model calculated that tourism activity saved each household $1,000 in 2025. Lynchburg's success positions it as a competitive regional destination as the city prepares new initiatives for 2026 and 2027.

The rise in tourism activity helps lower the local tax burden, effectively saving the average Virginia household $1,000 in additional costs. Residents may see continued economic benefits as the city formalizes new tourism strategies throughout 2026 and 2027.

The takeaway

Lynchburg has successfully leveraged major events to create a predictable and growing revenue stream for the community. Residents can expect these tourism initiatives to remain a core focus for the city's future fiscal planning.