STATE ANNOUNCES TOURISM’S VISITOR IMPACT FOR 2021
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-Rockingham County Visitor’s Spending Increases by 28.4 Percent from 2020 to $77.9 Million-
Rockingham County, NC-(August 25, 2022) – Domestic and international visitors to and within Rockingham County spent $77.9 million in 2021, an increase of 28.4% from 2020. The data comes from an annual study, commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
Rockingham County tourism impact highlights for 2022:
• The travel and tourism industry directly employed more than 592 people in Rockingham County.
• Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Rockingham County was $20.3 million.
• Visitor expenditures generated $6.2 million in local and state tax revenues in 2021, compared to $5.2 million in 2020.
These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2021,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics in collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association.
The report also provided visitor spending based on a variety of sectors. Visit NC reported that food and beverage spending led Rockingham County at $28.98 million (an increase of 20% from 2020), followed by transportation expenditures at $17.66 million (up 37% from 2020), $15.52 million in lodging (up 30% from 2020), $9.41 million in recreation (an incredible 45% increase from 2020), and $6.30 million in retail (a 21% increase from 2020).
“Rockingham County has experienced a significant rebound in visitor spending from 2020,” said Lindsay Pegg, Rockingham County Tourism Manager. “This speaks not only to our abundant natural resources which provide outdoor recreation opportunities and experiences for all, but to our thriving downtown economies, growing number of lodging options especially Airbnb and VRBOs, and the tenacity of our small businesses who were able to overcome the economic turmoil felt by all in 2020. Our local reports show promising data which places Rockingham County on the path to a record breaking 2022.”
Statewide, visitor spending in 2021 rebounded by 44.9 percent to reach $28.9 billion. Following the devastating pandemic-related losses of the 2020, the total fell just short of the record $29.22 spent in 2019. Direct tourism employment increased 10.5 percent to 197,500.
Statewide highlights include:
• Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $28.9 billion in 2021.That sum represents a 44.9 percent increase over 2020 expenditures. The figure falls 1 percent below the record $29.22 billion spent in 2019.
• Visitors spent more than $79 million per day in North Carolina. That spending added $6.4 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.3 million in state taxes and $3.1 million in local taxes).
• North Carolina hosted nearly 45 million visitors in 2021.
“These findings are something that everyone in North Carolina can celebrate,” said Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell. “They’re a testament to the resilience of our businesses and our residents, and to the enduring appeal of destinations that include everything a traveler might want. The economic well-being of the state and all its communities rises with the pleasures travelers find in the natural beauty of our public spaces, our culinary traditions and innovation, our remarkable towns and our spirited cities. North Carolina can claim it all.”
For more information please contact Tara Martin at tmartin@co.rockingham.nc.us or Lindsay Pegg at lpegg@co.rockingham.nc.us.
Rockingham County Economic Development, Small Business, & Tourism News Release • August 25, 2022
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