Increased visitor spending supported 211,487 jobs in 2015.
How Does Tourism Impact N.C. Businesses?
Tourism was up across North Carolina in 2015. According to an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association, domestic visitor spending increased in 91 of the state’s 100 counties last year. Tourists spent $21.9 billion statewide, which was up almost 3 percent from 2014. This spending directly supported 211,487 jobs, generated nearly $5.3 billion in payroll income, added $1.1 billion to state coffers in state tax receipts, and generated more than $660 million in local tax revenues.
For small
businesses especially, which represent 92 percent of all business in North
Carolina and a large percentage of the state’s tourism industry, this was great
news.
“Tourism is a major
force in North Carolina’s economic development,” Gov. Pat McCrory said. “The
industry is fueling a continued growth in jobs and contributing substantial
sums to the state budget and local economies in every corner of our great
state.”
Gov. McCrory also
recently announced that visitation to North Carolina’s state sites,
attractions, and museums in fiscal year 2015-16, which ended June 30, has
increased 7.7 percent, or nearly 1.8 million visitors, compared with fiscal
year 2014-15.
The midsummer
visitation numbers to the North Carolina State Parks system, through the end of
July, is also up 10 percent over 2015 numbers, and total state parks visitation
in 2015 hit a record of 17.3 million.
