Southwest Virginia also boasts some of the most varied hunting, camping, fishing and backpacking opportunities available anywhere in the Southeast. More recently however, falling coal prices and the rise of mechanization within the mining industry have lead to a decline in the availability of coal mining jobs, and the region has turned to other sources of economic support. Southwest Virginia is an excellent place to live and work. Its superb quality of life, an outstanding work force, a first rate transportation system, access to major markets, and cooperation at all levels of government produce an environment for business that is second to none. As a result, new industries have emerged, especially those involved in high technology and telecommunications, which have found in the region an attractive mix of low labor costs and high labor quality.
Tourism is the region's greatest untapped economic resource.