Travel Spending Continues to Rise in Orange County, NC

CHAPEL HILL, NC (August 6, 2008) — The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau announced today that spending by domestic U.S. travelers totaled $147.55 million in Orange County during 2007. That equals an 7.2 percent increase over 2006 figures and ranks Orange County 24th out of North Carolina’s 100 counties in travel expenditures.

These statistics are from the recently released “2007 Economic Impact of Travel On North Carolina Counties” study. The study was prepared for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development by the Travel Industry Association of America. The study provides preliminary 2007 estimates of domestic traveler expenditures in North Carolina including employment, payroll income, and state and local tax revenue directly generated by travel-related expenditures.

“The higher spending was the result of increased same-day and overnight travel to Orange County,” said Laurie Paolicelli, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Executive Director. “Overall 2007 numbers were up where special events were concerned, specifically leisure sporting visits, reunions, weddings and youth and high school events.”

Paolicelli noted that overnight travel saw significant jumps in January, August and October 2007. ““By and large, the increase is across the board, and comes from lodging, restaurants and bars, retail, entertainment and transportation. Even our attractions saw a significant jump in attendance in 2007 from 2006 with 13% more people visiting our attractions such as the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, athletic events, museums and the North Carolina Botanical Garden. It’s also rewarding to see a positive growth trend in jobs and payroll.”

State tax revenue generated in Orange County totaled $7.80 million. Some $3.05 million in local taxes were generated from travel-related businesses. These taxes totaling $10.85 million represent an $85 tax saving to each county resident. More than 1,740 jobs in Orange County were directly attributable to travel and tourism last year. Also, according to the study, travel generated a $28.62 million payroll in the county.

Visitor spending infuses non-resident tax dollars into the local economy and generates sales tax revenues that are returned to the community to fund services.

Across North Carolina, domestic visitors spent a record $16.5 billion, an increase of 7.2% in 2007.

The mission of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau is to develop and coordinate visitor services in Orange County and to implement marketing programs that will enhance the economic activity and quality of life in the community. The Visitors Bureau is fully funded by hotel occupancy taxes paid by visitors.


Did You Know?

UNC was the first state-supported university in the U.S. and enrolls nearly 30,000 students from all North Carolina counties, all U.S. states and more than 100 foreign countries.