Delegate Keaton to Introduce Legislation Promoting Rural Tourism
Charleston, WV – In the upcoming regular legislative session, Delegate Riley Keaton (R-Roane) will introduce legislation to promote even more tourism in West Virginia through lodging development in rural counties.
“When you think of the future of tourism with COVID out there, there will be people who feel safer visiting smaller towns as opposed to big cities,” Keaton said. “We have so many small towns that would benefit from a growing tourism economy.”
The legislation would create a loan insurance program for lodging developers in unserved and underserved communities.
“If you have less than 1 percent of your county’s population in hotel-motel tax paying beds, you’d be eligible for loan insurance to gain access to financing at more favorable rates,” Keaton said.
Keaton used his hometown of Spencer as an example of a “hidden gem” for tourists.
“We’ve got outdoor recreation opportunities, great history and heritage points of interest, a Main Street that looks like a postcard, the first-in-class Chestnut Ridge Winery, Hatfield’s Distillery, and so much more,” Keaton said. “The sky’s the limit on what we can accomplish for our communities across West Virginia if we’re willing to think big and work hard.”
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Contact riley.keatonwv@gmail.com for more information.