Charleston, West Virginia (WVNS) — Governor Morrisey announced the launch of an online tourism program aimed at increasing jobs and tourism education across the Mountain State.
According to a press release, Tourism Works aims to improve the state’s hospitality skills and training. The announcement was made at the State Capitol with the support of over 200 tourism and hospitality professionals in recognition of the industry’s record-breaking annual impact of $8.7 billion.
As Governor, one of my top priorities is to grow our economy, our population, and our workforce. Our tourism and hospitality industry is one of the best in the country, and it will be a crucial part of West Virginia’s economic future.
The new Tourism Works program builds on our welcoming and friendly culture, ensuring every visitor to West Virginia feels at home in the Mountain State.
Governor Patrick Morrisey
Thanks to Governor Morrisey, the West Virginia Legislature, the Department of Education and all of our amazing partners across the state, the future of tourism has never looked brighter.
This sector currently includes 70,000 hospitality and tourism jobs in West Virginia with an expected 21,000 job openings each year. The Tourism Works program is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to gain experience in a thriving industry.
Chelsea Ruby | Secretary, West Virginia Department of Tourism
Tourism Works is a free online course offered by the West Virginia Department of Tourism in collaboration with Blue Ridge Community and Technical College that allows students to earn one hour of college credit.
All West Virginia residents are encouraged to enroll, with course highlights including small businesses, history, and culture in the Mountain State.
Tourism Day at the Capitol, held on March 12, 2025, was one of the industry’s largest celebrations in recent memory. Over 200 tourism and history professionals from all nine travel regions of the state attended.
Students from both the Monongalia County Technical Education Center and the Nicholas County Career and Technical Center attended, highlighting training programs with pastries, coffee, and student-created food.
