SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 62

(By Senators Maynard, Beach, Cline, Karnes, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, and Sypolt)

[Originating in the Committee on Natural Resources; Reported on March 8, 2018]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the potential economic benefits of rock-climbing tourism throughout the State of West Virginia.

Whereas, West Virginia contains numerous world-class destinations for the sport of rock climbing, including, among other destinations, Summersville Lake, the New River Gorge, and Seneca Rocks; and

Whereas, Professional and recreational athletes travel to West Virginia each year from many other states and countries solely to participate in rock climbing; and

Whereas, A recent study published in the Journal of Appalachian Studies discovered that rock climbers who travel to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, which is located within a two-hour drive of the West Virginia border, spend $3.8 million annually in that region, mostly on local businesses; and

Whereas, Measures to facilitate and preserve athletes’ access to rock-climbing destinations in the state could lead to the creation of jobs and help stimulate local economies through tourism, both by bringing out-of-state athletes into West Virginia and by increasing national awareness of the state’s unique geological formations; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the potential economic benefits of efforts to promote rock-climbing tourism throughout the State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance enlist the assistance of the Commissioner of Tourism in conducting the study; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2019, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.