Posted: 7:11 PM May 26, 2012
Reporter: Elizabeth Lamb

Luray Tourism

The weather's heating up and so is tourism in the Valley.

Luray Caverns employee Brian Richards worked all day Saturday to bring in nearly 5,000 visitors to the caverns.

"A lot of traveling, folks are taking their vacations, school's out for the holidays as well, especially in Virginia," Richards said.

Employees switch to leading self-guided tours during busy days in the caverns, like July 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Nearly 14,000 people are expected to visit this Memorial Day weekend.

With a parking lot full of cars and tickets around $20 each, the caverns are expected to bring in more than $250,000 this weekend.

That means cavern employees benefit from busy days.

"We get people who have been here hundreds of times and still come back, and it's always good to see repeat customers," Richards said.

Tourists come from around the world to see Luray's caverns, including a group of visitors from Afghanistan.

They're in the United States to learn about democracy as part of a three-week program with the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Afsoon Arwin, who is visiting from Afghanistan, said she's impressed by the system of laws in America.

"It's my big wish that everyone in Afghanistan will one day obey the law. And also do things that are useful for our country and for our people," Arwin said.

Some of the Afghan visitors are from the country's Ministry of Justice and its Supreme Court.

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