Lynchburg, Va. (WDBJ) – The Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism recently released its annual report, which in many ways shows positive factors for Hill City’s post-pandemic economy.
“It’s always a moment to pause and look back at what the world, the country, the region and the city of Lynchburg have been through over the last two and a half, three years,” said Economic Director Marjette Upshur. Urban development and tourism.
There is no playbook for how businesses will respond to a pandemic. But as we head into a normal holiday season, annual reports show that business in Lynchburg has surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
“I think some of the most rewarding things are watching your business get through a pandemic,” Upshur said.
This is clear in the report, but also from the perspective of Lynchburg business owners.
“Overall, it seems to be coming back. I would say our numbers are actually better, and that has to do with the addition of the local university and hospital and the growth of BWXT,” said Michael Pearl, who owns Downtown Bailey Spencer.
Tourism is also prominent, with the report saying domestic tourism has recovered 120% since July 2019.
“Tourism in Lynchburg is our backbone, our university, our health care system and our businesses bring a lot of traffic and visitors to the city. So to see such a quick bounce back, really So rewarding and gratifying,” Upshur said.
“It shows that we’re slowly becoming a tourist city, not just a place that people love and live in, and that’s good for everyone,” Pearl said.
Upshur said the report is what they will use to guide them for the rest of the year. This is something city leaders and businesses hope to continue building in Lynchburg’s future.
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