Business

County tourism spending up 6.78 percent

By Bill Moss, Published: August 18, 2014

Tourism spending in Henderson County last year rose 6.78 percent over 2012 and the county advanced two notches among North Carolina's 100 counties in travel impact, to 15th.

Henderson County's increase, to $233.25 million, was the fourth-largest percentage increase in travel spending in 2013 over the previous year, according to the annual economic impact study by the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. The study, conducted by the Research Department of the U.S. Travel Association, provides preliminary 2013 estimates of domestic traveler expenditures in North Carolina, as well as the employment, payroll income, state and local tax revenue directly generated by these expenditures.

The travel and tourism industry directly employed more than 2,050 in Henderson County. Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Henderson County was $40.52 million. Between 2012 and 2013, Henderson County had the fourth largest increase in direct tourism employment, with a 4.4 percent increase.

State and local tax revenue generated in Henderson County totaled $20.22 million. This includes revenue from state sales and excise taxes, taxes on personal and corporate income, as well as sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses. This represents a $184.99 tax saving to each county resident.