Domestic and international visitors to and within Pender and Onslow counties spent more than $611.24 million in 2023.  Visitor spending increased 8.5 percent in Onslow and 5 percent in Pender over 2022 data.

The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism acknowledges the tourism industry is a leading driver in economic growth in coastal Pender and Onslow counties.

Tourism accounts for more than 1,000 jobs in Pender County and 2,485 employees in Onslow County. The workforce income was $40.4 million in Pender and $94.7 million in Onslow County.

More than $6.4 million and $9.1 million in state and local taxes were generated by travelers in Pender County. Onslow County garnered $14.5 million and $14.3 million in state and local taxes.

A study, commissioned by Visit NC and conducted by Tourism Economics, was released this week. The study highlighted traveler expenditures as well as employment, payroll income, and state and local tax revenues directly generated by these expenditures.

“It’s great to see increasing numbers of people continue to flock to North Carolina to see all we have to offer,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Visitors are investing record amounts of money bolstering our booming tourism industry, which brings good jobs and income to North Carolina businesses and families.”

Statewide visitor spending increased. North Carolina is the fifth most visited state in the US.

Visitor spending continued to break records for North Carolina in 2023, according to data released Tuesday by the NC Department of Commerce. Travel spending statewide rose 6.9 percent to $35.6 billion in 2023 to set a record in visitor spending. That growth followed a record-breaking increase of 15 percent in 2022. Direct tourism employment also increased statewide by 4.8 percent to 227,000.

“The new study underscores the importance of tourism to every county in North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “There’s a lot of competition for travelers’ time and money, and we owe our success to everything from the state’s scenic beauty and outdoor adventure to our mix of tradition and innovation and our welcoming spirit. Those qualities might be hard to measure, but we can follow the trail to a measurable impact on our workforce, our businesses and our tax base. We look forward to continued success.”

Domestic and international visitors to and within Pender and Onslow counties spent more than $611.24 million in 2023.  Visitor spending increased 8.5 percent in Onslow and 5 percent in Pender over 2022 data.

The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism acknowledges the tourism industry is a leading driver in economic growth in coastal Pender and Onslow counties.

Tourism accounts for more than 1,000 jobs in Pender County and 2,485 employees in Onslow County. The workforce income was $40.4 million in Pender and $94.7 million in Onslow County.

More than $6.4 million and $9.1 million in state and local taxes were generated by travelers in Pender County. Onslow County garnered $14.5 million and $14.3 million in state and local taxes.

A study, commissioned by Visit NC and conducted by Tourism Economics, was released this week. The study highlighted traveler expenditures as well as employment, payroll income, and state and local tax revenues directly generated by these expenditures.

“It’s great to see increasing numbers of people continue to flock to North Carolina to see all we have to offer,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Visitors are investing record amounts of money bolstering our booming tourism industry, which brings good jobs and income to North Carolina businesses and families.”

Statewide visitor spending increased. North Carolina is the fifth most visited state in the US.

Visitor spending continued to break records for North Carolina in 2023, according to data released Tuesday by the NC Department of Commerce. Travel spending statewide rose 6.9 percent to $35.6 billion in 2023 to set a record in visitor spending. That growth followed a record-breaking increase of 15 percent in 2022. Direct tourism employment also increased statewide by 4.8 percent to 227,000.

“The new study underscores the importance of tourism to every county in North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “There’s a lot of competition for travelers’ time and money, and we owe our success to everything from the state’s scenic beauty and outdoor adventure to our mix of tradition and innovation and our welcoming spirit. Those qualities might be hard to measure, but we can follow the trail to a measurable impact on our workforce, our businesses and our tax base. We look forward to continued success.”