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This Virginia county tops visitor spending in the state

By Jeff Clabaugh

Loudoun County leads Virginia visitor spending, according to a new report that also included Dulles airport traffic in that count.

Last year was a strong year for tourism spending in Virginia, with a total of $35.1 billion spent by 114.5 million visitors, up 5.4% from 2023, Tourism Economics’ report on the economic impact of visitors to Virginia in 2024 revealed. Overnight visitation to Virginia rose by more than 1 million to 44.7 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and setting a new record.

Loudoun County retains the title of most visitor spending, largely because of Dulles International Airport. The tourism spending numbers include transportation spending. That does not include prices paid for airfare by visitors, but does include landing and other fees paid by airlines, as well as roundtrip transportation costs for out-of-town visitors to and from the airport.

Overall tourist spending in Loudoun County totaled $4.9 billion in 2024, up 9% from 2023, with $2.9 billion of that coming from transportation, the report states.

Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson also pointed to gains in other categories.

“For the past several years, Loudoun has seen an increase in visitor spending, which is a testament not only to the growth happening at Washington Dulles, but to the creativity and innovation of our tourism partners, who deliver world-class experiences and welcome every guest with genuine hospitality,”  Erickson said.

“From our craft beverage and elevated dining scene to new lodging properties and vibrant arts and music offerings, Loudoun continues to evolve as a dynamic destination.”

Loudoun County’s wine industry also marked 40 years last year. The county also led Virginia and the D.C. metro area for hotel occupancy.

Throughout Virginia, tourism spending was led by transportation, followed by food and beverage, lodging, recreation and retail.

Tourism Economics estimates the total economic impact for visitors to the Commonwealth was $53.3 billion, which generated $3.3 billion in state and local taxes. Tourism supported more than 328,000 jobs in Virginia last year.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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