North Carolina’s Tourism Sector Flourishes, With Seventy-one Counties Experiencing Growth In Visitor Spending And Jobs, Led By Mecklenburg County’s Six Point Four Billion Dollars In Revenue

Published on August 28, 2025

In 2024, North Carolina’s tourism manufacture reached caller heights, pinch visitant spending totaling a record-breaking $36.7 billion. This surge was driven by accrued expenditures successful 71 of nan state’s 100 counties, reflecting a thriving tourism assemblage that importantly boosted section economies. The emergence successful spending, coupled pinch occupation maturation successful astir two-thirds of counties, highlights nan continued value of tourism arsenic a cardinal economical driver for North Carolina.

Visitor Spending Soars successful North Carolina, Reaching Record \$36.7 Billion successful 2024

North Carolina’s tourism assemblage has seen awesome maturation successful 2024, pinch visitant spending successful 71 of nan state’s 100 counties contributing to a record-breaking full of \$36.7 cardinal successful revenue. According to nan latest study released by nan NC Department of Commerce, this surge successful tourism spending is simply a beardown denotation of nan sector’s economical impact.

The report, commissioned by Visit NC and conducted by Tourism Economics, offers preliminary estimates connected some home and world recreation expenditures. It besides highlights nan creation of jobs, payroll income, and nan gross generated from authorities and section taxes linked straight to tourism-related spending. Despite nan challenges posed by Hurricane Helene, which impacted parts of nan state, nan findings show nan resilience of North Carolina’s tourism industry.

Key Highlights of North Carolina’s 2024 Tourism Growth

Visitor Spending Growth Across nan State
In 2024, 71% of North Carolina’s counties knowledgeable a emergence successful visitant spending, highlighting nan expanding effect of tourism connected nan state’s section economies.The authorities saw a corporate 3.1% emergence successful visitant spending, pinch important contributions from counties for illustration Cleveland, Burke, and Iredell, which led nan complaint successful boosting nan state’s record-breaking total.

Notably, 7 counties knowledgeable double-digit maturation successful visitant spending, including Cleveland, Burke, Iredell, Stokes, Union, Gaston, and Ashe. These areas person go progressively celebrated pinch tourists, further cementing North Carolina’s position arsenic a cardinal tourism hub successful nan southeastern United States.

Rising Tourism Employment successful Many Regions
The study besides revealed important increases successful nonstop tourism-related employment, pinch astir two-thirds of counties reporting occupation maturation successful nan sector. Stokes County stood retired pinch nan largest jump, signaling an awesome 8.8% summation successful tourism-related employment. Other counties showing important maturation successful tourism jobs see Burke (up 7.6%), Gaston (up 7.0%), Union (up 6.7%), and Ashe (up 6.2%).

Top Performing Counties by Visitor Spending and Employment

Mecklenburg County Leads nan Way
Mecklenburg County led nan authorities successful visitant expenditures, generating astir $6.4 billion, which represents a 9.1% emergence compared to nan erstwhile year.The region besides led nan authorities successful nan number of nonstop tourism employees, pinch 37,985 individuals employed successful nan sector—an summation of 4.6% from 2023. Mecklenburg’s prominence arsenic a cardinal destination for some home and world visitors reflects its cultural, business, and leisure appeal.

Following Mecklenburg, Wake County earned \$3.5 cardinal successful traveler expenditures, experiencing a 7.8% increase. Buncombe County, known for Asheville and its surrounding upland region, saw a flimsy dip successful visitant spending, pinch a alteration of 10.6%, bringing successful \$2.7 billion. Despite this, it remains a salient destination for those seeking outdoor adventures and taste experiences.

Other Notable Counties
Additional counties showing important maturation successful visitant expenditures see Guilford, which saw a 6.8% increase, totaling $1.8 billion; Brunswick, which grew by 4.9%, reaching $1.2 billion; and Durham, which reported a 3.1% rise, besides totaling $1.2 billion. On nan different hand, Dare County, known for its iconic Outer Banks, knowledgeable a insignificant driblet successful spending, falling by 2.2% to $2.1 billion.However, its entreaty remains strong, particularly among beachgoers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Challenges from Hurricane Helene

While nan study does return into relationship nan aftermath of Hurricane Helene, it does not afloat seizure nan grade of nan storm’s effect connected tourism, peculiarly successful Western North Carolina. Some counties successful nan region, which typically tie visitors for their scenic beauty and outdoor activities, whitethorn person knowledgeable losses that person not been afloat quantified successful nan report.

Tourism’s Expanding Role successful North Carolina’s Economy

The state’s tourism manufacture continues to beryllium a cornerstone of economical growth, contributing to occupation creation and generating taxation revenues that support section infrastructure and services. With continued investments successful attractions, accommodations, and services, North Carolina is positioning itself arsenic a apical recreation destination.

Visitor spending maturation and employment description successful galore regions propose that tourism successful North Carolina is thriving and that nan state’s divers offerings—from coastal retreats to upland escapes—are attracting much visitors than ever before. As nan assemblage recovers from challenges specified arsenic hurricanes and world economical fluctuations, North Carolina’s tourism manufacture remains a captious driver of section and authorities economies.

In 2024, North Carolina’s tourism manufacture achieved a grounds $36.7 cardinal successful visitant spending, driven by maturation successful 71 counties. This surge highlights nan sector’s pivotal domiciled successful boosting nan state’s system and occupation creation.

Conclusion: A Bright Future for North Carolina Tourism

The surge successful visitant spending and employment maturation crossed North Carolina is simply a promising motion for nan state’s tourism future. As nan manufacture continues to evolve, pinch a attraction connected sustainability and organization engagement, North Carolina is poised to stay a apical destination for travelers seeking unsocial experiences. With record-breaking figures successful 2024, nan state’s tourism assemblage is thriving, and its economical effect is expected to turn moreover further successful nan coming years.