Chapel Hill, NC – (April 28, 2017) – Domestic visitor spending on tourism in Orange County, NC is a $184 million business.  Each year, some 2.5 million visitors travel to Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough to help fuel an economy that employs more than 1,800 and supports a $35 million payroll.  National Travel & Tourism Week is a yearly celebration that is designed to raise awareness about the economic value of travel and to promote the impact travelers have on areas like Orange County.

National Travel & Tourism Week is May 7-13, 2017 and its theme, “Faces of Travel,” shines the spotlight on the people behind our nation’s travel industry. Whether it’s the front desk concierge at a hotel, the tour guide in a town’s historic district or local attraction or the CEO of a local destination marketing organization, our people are what make America a great place to visit, and keep our industry strong.

During NTTW and beyond, the Visitors Bureau additionally wants to make the connection between our local personalities and tourism through the Vitamin O series of photo essays the Visitors Bureau commissioned from local photographer, Alicia Stemper, on the people of Orange County.  “Our inspiration developed from the knowledge that it’s really the people of our area that make us a special place to visit. By showcasing individuals, we knew we could illustrate the personality of Orange County,” said Laurie Paolicelli, Director of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau.

Read full press release here.