Virginia Beach tourism takes first dip since 1990

After nearly two decades of annual increases, visitor spending fell nearly 3 percent in Virginia Beach last year - and city leaders are relatively pleased about it.

"It could have been a lot worse," Jim Ricketts, director of the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, said of the 2.9 percent decrease. It was the city's first decline since 1990.

"These are extraordinary times in terms of the economy," he said. "Under the circumstances, I think we came out the best we could." The Beach's fallout was relatively mild compared with that of other tourist cities, according to the city's annual report on tourism economic impact released Thursday.

Get the full story at: HamptonRoads