West Virginia Governor's Conference on Tourism Features New Policy Announcements

West Virginia held its Governor's Conference on Tourism in Charleston, where Governor Patrick Morrisey and newly appointed Tourism Secretary Kayla Kessinger addressed attendees. Kessinger outlined new priorities for the state's tourism office, including efforts to increase repeat visitors, strengthen local partnerships, and spread tourism-related economic benefits more broadly across West Virginia. Coverage indicates this was billed in advance as a venue for a significant policy announcement from Morrisey. During the conference, Morrisey announced the development of a new 35-site campground at Lost River State Park, along with additional unspecified investments in the state park system. The announcement was part of broader state tourism and economic policy messaging tied to the conference. Specific funding amounts, timelines for the campground's completion, and details of the other park investments were not specified in available reporting. The status of implementation for the Lost River State Park campground and other announced investments remains unclear, as does the scope of Kessinger's planned initiatives beyond the stated priorities. It is unresolved whether additional details or a formal rollout schedule will follow. A separate item regarding Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's housing policy announcements is unrelated to the West Virginia tourism conference and involves different officials, state, and subject matter.