By Stephen Smoot, The Shinnston News & Harrison County Journal
SHINNSTON, W.Va. — Last month, Wallet Hub released its yearly ranking of what they consider “fun” states.
Once again, West Virginia came in last for “fun.”
That assessment, however, counters what other outlets say. National Geographic, for example, in January stated that West Virginia whitewater was one of their 20 “Best in the World” spots for recreation.
And just two years ago, Conde Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and Time magazine all listed West Virginia among the leading destinations for travel, not just nationally but globally.
Numbers do not support Wallet Hub. West Virginia had approximately $7 billion worth of tourism economic impact in 2022 – a 17 percent increase since the start of the pandemic. Also since the pandemic, West Virginia’s tourism economy has expanded considerably while that if the nation itself has lagged.
Why the discrepancy?
Surveys and rankings such as this need to come served with a heavy dose of salt. Any set of criteria on which rankings like this are derived are always subjective. Someone decides which metrics and aspects should make up part of the ranking and which do not.
Read more: https://shinnstonnews.com/op-ed-west-virginia-ranked-last-in-fun/
