Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tourism Day to Mark Travel Industry’s Record Impact on N.C. Economy

State Tax Receipts from Visitor Spending Now More Than $1 Billion
May 15, 2012

RALEIGH -- Gov. Bev Perdue is proclaiming Wednesday, May 16, 2012, as Tourism Day in North Carolina, celebrating travel and tourism as a major industry that is vital to the economic stability and growth of the state. For the first time, state tax receipts as a result of visitor spending topped $1 billion in 2011 and have increased more than 50 percent in the last 10 years.

"Tourism means jobs in North Carolina," said Gov. Bev Perdue. "Our beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, small towns and vibrant cities made North Carolina a desirable destination for more than 37 million visitors last year. Those domestic travelers to our state spent a record $18 billion across all 100 counties, and that spending directly supports nearly 200,000 jobs for state residents."

“For every dollar spent by travelers to North Carolina, twenty-five cents in wage and salary income is generated for our residents,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. “Those are jobs that cannot be exported and that benefit communities in every county in the state.”
 
Visitors spend more than $50 million per day in North Carolina and contribute more than $4.3 million per day in state and local tax revenues as a result of that spending. Each North Carolina household saves over $430 annually in state and local taxes as a result of taxes generated by visitor expenditures. The visitor spending figures are the preliminary results of a study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association.
 
Tourism Facts: 

  • Domestic travelers spent a record $18.4 billion in 2011, up from 17 billion in 2010, an increase of 8.2 percent.
  • In 2011 total visitor volume was $37.2 million up 1 percent from 2010.  NC is the 6th most visited state in the U.S. for overnight visitors
  • More than 40,000 businesses in North Carolina directly provide products and services to travelers, with travelers directly contributing more than 25 percent to their total products and services.
  • State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending topped $1 billion in 2011, and have increased nearly 52 percent in the last 10 years.
  • For every dollar spent by travelers to North Carolina, twenty-five cents in wage and salary income is generated for NC residents.
  • On average, every $98,000 in visitor spending in North Carolina directly supports one job.
  • Visitors spend over $50 million per day in North Carolina and contribute over $4.3 million per day in state and local tax revenues as a result of that spending (nearly $3 million in state taxes and over $1.5 million in local taxes).
  • Each North Carolina household saves over $430 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.
  • North Carolina enjoys a more than 17 to 1 return on investment of tax dollars invested in paid media advertising through the Division of Tourism.
  • For every $1 invested by the Division of Tourism in paid media advertising in 2010, North Carolina received $191 in new visitor spending, $10.31 in new state taxes and $6.25 in new local taxes.
  • For every $1 invested by the Division of Tourism is paid media advertising in 2010, 0.95 trips were generated to the state.

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