Tourism supports quality of life and institutions like museums and attractions that convince people and businesses to relocate to Danville, and according to GoDanRiver.com tourism increased in the area in 2008.

One way to show Danville to visitors from all over Virginia and North Carolina comes in the form of Bright Leaf Brew Fest at the Community Market, which help boost the local economy.

This is great for homeowners because tax revenue from tourism will help keep taxes down for residents.

"Local tourism leaders envision a thriving downtown Danville.

They don’t want to see empty storefronts or for-sale signs.

Residents want to have downtown retailers, the mall and shopping centers like Coleman MarketPlace, said Sandie Marshall, chair of the Dan River Hospitality and Travel Committee of the Danville-Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.

But the residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County can’t support those businesses alone, Marshall added.

'If we don’t have people coming in to support our stores and the things we’ve always wanted in the area, those things are going to fold up and go away,' she said. 'During a recession, the first thing people want to cut is marketing dollars. That’s the last thing people should cut.'

In 2008, tourists (travelers going more than 50 miles) spent more than $75 million in Danville, according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation. That employed 850 people and resulted in more than $5 million in local and state tax revenues.

Tourism actually increased by $4.4 million last year from 2007."

Read the full story.