Business

Henderson County tourism rose by 3.6% in 2019

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 2, 2020

Domestic visitors to and within Henderson County spent $324.77 million in 2019, an increase of 3.64 percent over 2018, Visit North Carolina said.

“Henderson County continues to be recognized as a premiere travel destination bringing domestic and international visitors to experience our local heritage, agritourism, culture, recreation, dining and shopping, and most importantly – our hospitality,” Henderson County Tourism Development Authority Director Beth Carden said.

Tourism impact highlights for 2019:

• The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 2,530 in Henderson County].
• Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Henderson County was $61.75 million
• State tax revenue generated in Henderson County totaled $14.53 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $13.86 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.
• Visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2019. The $26.7 billion in total spending represented an increase of 5.6 percent from 2018.

“The numbers confirm the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry as an anchor of economic development,” said Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina. “As the No. 6 state in the country for overnight visitation, we can attribute our success to the natural beauty and authenticity that visitors experience, and to a passionate effort to inform and inspire travelers. The money they spend benefits everyone by sustaining jobs and reducing our residents’ tax burden.”

Statewide highlights include:

• State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending rose 5.0 percent to more than $1.3 billion in 2019.
• Visitors spend more than $73 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $5.92 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $2.2 million in local taxes).
• The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 235,000 North Carolinians.
• Each North Carolina household saves on average $551 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.