Sept. 04–Travel and tourism spending grew a healthy 4 percent in Virginia last year, figures released this afternoon said.

In 2012, travelers spent $21.2 billion in the Old Dominion — a new state record — according to the study conducted for the Virginia Tourism Corp.

“Virginia’s tourism industry continues to generate more revenue and create more good jobs,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell in a statement.

Travel spending directly supported 210,000 jobs in the state last year, or 7 percent of total private-industry employment, the study said. That makes the travel industry Virginia’s fifth largest private employer.

Travel-related workers in Virginia earned more than $4.7 billion in payroll income during 2012, representing a 3.3 percent increase from 2011, the study said. On average, every $101,009 spent by domestic travelers in Virginia during 2012 produced one job.

The U.S. Travel Association’s research department conducted the study for Virginia Tourism Corp., the state’s travel promotion agency.

Henrico County, with $746.5 million in visitor expenditures in 2012, ranked fifth among the state’s 134 cities and counties in travel and tourism spending.

Northern Virginia led the state in travel expenditures. Arlington County received nearly $2.8 billion from travel expenditures last year, Fairfax County followed with $2.7 billion, and Loudoun County ranked third with $1.6 billion.

Virginia Beach, which received almost $1.3 billion, ranked fourth among localities.

In Richmond, travel spending was estimated at $617 million. Tourism spending was $419 million in Chesterfield County; $204 million in Hanover County; and $31 million in New Kent County.

Taken together, travel and tourism spending add up to $2 billion in the five localities which are members of the Richmond Region Tourism organization, a 4.5 percent increase from last year, according the regional agency.

“This is a record-setting year,” said Jack Berry, president and CEO of Richmond Region Tourism, formerly known as the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“We’re hitting on all cylinders,” Berry said with almost all travel market components showing increases in the metro area.

Forty of Virginia’s localities received more than $100 million in travel spending in 2012, the report said, and 42 counties and cities had 1,000 or more jobs supported by travelers.

pbacque@timesdispatch.com

(804) 649-6813

This has been a breaking news update. Read more in tomorrow’s Richmond Times-Dispatch.