United States Sees North Carolina Tourism Power More Than One Billion In Local Taxes And Record Growth – Here’s How

Published on August 30, 2025

US tourism news shows that North Carolina’s recreation manufacture brought successful a singular $1.3 cardinal successful section taxation receipts during 2024, according to nan authorities Department of Commerce. Even aft nan challenges caused by Hurricane Helene successful September, tourism remained a driving unit down some economical maturation and occupation creation crossed nan state. From ample metropolitan hubs to mini upland towns, astir each area of North Carolina benefited from rising visitant spending and stronger tourism employment.

Record Growth successful Local Tax Revenue

The charismatic study highlights a 4.3 percent summation successful section taxation receipts, pinch nan full reaching $1.3 billion. This dependable emergence shows really captious tourism is successful supporting region services specified as:

• Education funding
• Road and infrastructure improvements
• Public information and organization services

Out of North Carolina’s 100 counties, 71 saw maturation successful visitant spending. This wide advancement reflects nan industry’s expertise to substance region maturation beyond well-known tourer spots.

Counties pinch Strong Gains

Per nan latest US tourism news, respective counties posted standout results:

• Cleveland, Burke, and Iredell Counties each recorded double-digit maturation successful visitant spending.
• Burke County classed 2nd statewide for tourism employment gains, posting a 7.6 percent increase.
• Stokes County led pinch an 8.8 percent emergence successful employment.
• Union, Gaston, and Ashe Counties besides achieved double-digit maturation successful visitant spending, while adding important jobs successful hospitality and recreation services.

These numbers underscore really smaller and mid-sized counties are securing their spot successful nan broader economical picture.

Urban Counties Lead successful Visitor Spending

North Carolina’s largest counties dominated wide spending totals:

• Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) – $6.4 cardinal successful expenditures, up 9.1 percent from 2023.
• Wake County (Raleigh) – $3.5 billion, showing 7.8 percent growth.
• Buncombe County (Asheville) – $2.7 billion, contempt a 10.6 percent driblet caused by large wind damage.

Even pinch losses, Buncombe held its crushed arsenic nan 3rd highest region for spending. The information suggests that Asheville’s taste attractions, outdoor recreation, and culinary estimation proceed to tie travelers moreover during recovery.

Coastal and Specialty Destinations

Beyond nan municipality centers, respective different counties showed awesome results:

• Dare County – $2.1 cardinal successful traveler spending.
• Brunswick County – $1.2 billion.
• New Hanover County – $1.1 billion.
• Moore County – $860 million, fueled mostly by its estimation arsenic a play destination.

This operation of coastal and niche tourism spots highlights really divers attractions—ranging from beaches to sporting culture—keep nan authorities competitive.

Jobs Created Through Tourism

The relationship betwixt visitant spending and tourism employment is clear successful nan state’s numbers. Tourism supported thousands of jobs successful 2024, pinch nan pursuing breakdown:

• Mecklenburg County employed astir 38,000 workers successful tourism-related fields.
• Wake, Buncombe, Dare, and Guilford Counties each supported much than 10,000 jobs.
• Union, Ashe, and Gaston Counties posted notable employment increases alongside their spending growth.

This shows really tourism is much than conscionable revenue—it straight supports livelihoods crossed some agrarian and municipality North Carolina.

Impact of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene struck occidental North Carolina successful precocious September, devastating Buncombe County and Asheville. Still, nan region produced $2.7 cardinal successful tourism revenue, showing resilience successful nan look of crisis. Officials emphasized that nan county’s betterment reflects nan spot of its attractions, including arts, food, and earthy scenery.

The expertise to clasp precocious levels of visitant spending contempt wide large wind harm demonstrates nan lasting economical effect of tourism crossed nan state.

Widespread County Growth

While nan apical counties tie headlines, nan study shows that smaller counties are besides thriving:

• Stokes County – 8.8 percent occupation growth.
• Union County – 6.7 percent employment increase.
• Gaston County – 7 percent employment increase.
• Ashe County – 6.2 percent occupation growth.

These gains exemplify really nan benefits of tourism are reaching acold beyond awesome cities and celebrated coastal destinations.

US Tourism News: The Statewide Picture

The broader statewide totals show nan afloat story:

• $36.7 cardinal successful full visitant spending successful 2024, mounting a caller record.
• $1.3 cardinal successful section taxation receipts, supporting section governments crossed each regions.
• Thousands of jobs created aliases supported crossed aggregate counties.

Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley summed it up best, noting that “North Carolina has thing for everyone.” He pointed to nan operation of cultural, culinary, and recreational opportunities that proceed to pull visitors from crossed nan state and beyond.

Conclusion

The latest US tourism news shows that North Carolina continues to thrive arsenic a recreation destination. With record-breaking visitant spending, dependable increases successful tourism employment, and $1.3 cardinal successful section taxation receipts, nan authorities has proven its resilience moreover successful nan look of earthy disasters. From Charlotte and Raleigh to Asheville and nan coast, each region is contributing to beardown region maturation and semipermanent economical impact.

North Carolina’s communicative successful 2024 makes 1 point clear: tourism is not conscionable astir visitors—it’s astir sustaining communities, creating jobs, and fueling maturation that benefits each area of nan state.