The city of Colonial Heights has signed on as a Richmond Region Tourism partner locality, the organization announced Wednesday. With the partnership, Richmond Region Tourism will support Colonial Heights’ tourism efforts as the state is reopening during COVID-19.

“We look forward to collaborating with Richmond Region Tourism to market Colonial Heights to visitors as the region works to safely reopen,” Douglas Smith, Colonial Heights city manager, said in a statement. “As the COVID-19 pandemic impacts every community across the country, our city is committed to working together to meet needs. Tourism will help support local businesses and quality of life in Colonial Heights.”

“We know tourism and collaboration will play important roles when the region’s economy recovers from the pandemic,” Richmond Region Tourism President and CEO Jack Berry said in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with Colonial Heights and look forward to working with the locality’s team and business community to promote the city’s many assets and attractions when the time is right.” 

A nonprofit regional tourism booster, Richmond Region Tourism is the official marketing organization for the Richmond region, and works with member localities to recruit meetings, events and sports tourism to the region, providing advertising, public relations and social media assistance. Under normal operations, the Richmond region’s 7.7 million annual visitors contribute $2.6 billion to the local economy, and tourism generates more than 24,000 regional jobs. Richmond Region Tourism members include the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan, the cities of Richmond and Colonial Heights and the town of Ashland.

Richmond Region Tourism operates visitor centers at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, the Robinson House at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Richmond International Airport and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Hanover County. 

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