Visitor spending increased in all regions of North Carolina for the 2015 calendar year, according to Gov. Pat McCrory.
The data is from Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and it shows that domestic visitor spending has increased in 91 of the state’s 100 counties.
Data released earlier in August was also positive as the state’s natural and cultural sites for the 2015-16 fiscal year were up nearly eight percent.
“Tourism is a major force in North Carolina’s economic development,” said Governor McCrory. “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.”
Visitors spent a record $21.9 billion statewide last year which was an increase of nearly three percent from the previous year.
Jobs have also been affected by this rise as visitor expenditures directly supported 211,487 jobs and generated nearly $5.3 billion in payroll income across the state.
Visitor spending figures come from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association.
The study uses sales and tax revenue data, employment figures and other industry and economic data to determine the overall impact of visitor spending in North Carolina.
