GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – An annual study says 2023 visitor spending broke records across the state, with many counties in the east contributing to making that happen.
Officials say visitor spending statewide rose 6.9%, reaching a record $35.6 billion. The state says spending rose in 98 of the 100 counties, following a record-breaking increase of 15% in 2022.
Many Eastern Carolina counties exceeded expectations, upping tourism and visitor spending by at least 1%. Greene, Pitt, Onslow, Carteret, and Martin Counties exceeded 7%, and Pitt and Onslow Counties officials say records were broken.
The findings come from a study done by VisitNC. Officials say their spending data is the breakdown of visitor, local industry, and government perspectives to pinpoint the scope of the travel sector in terms of direct visitor spending, as well as the direct economic impacts, jobs, and fiscal (tax) impacts in the broader economy.
VisitNC says data shows domestic and international visitors to and within Pitt County spent $312.88 million in 2023. President & CEO of Visit Greenville, NC Andrew Schmidt says it’s the first time visitor spending has passed $300 million.
Results show it’s up 7.5% from 2022′s total of $290.97 million, placing Pitt County 25th out of North Carolina’s 100 counties in tourism spending.
The survey showed the tourism spending breakdown as follows:
- Lodging- $65.47 million
- Food & Beverage- $111.84 million
- Recreation- $39.60 million
- Retail- $23.06 million
- Transportation- $72.91 million
In Carteret County, VisitNC domestic and international visitors to and within spent $732.29 million in 2023, an increase of 5.3% from 2022. Executive Director of the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority Jim Browder says this sets a record for the county.
For Carteret County, the survey breakdown for spending in various areas shows as follows:
- Lodging – $199.93 million
- Food & Beverage – $219.35 million
- Recreation – $104.19 million
- Retail – $60.93 million
- Transportation – $147.89 million
Onslow County is up 8.5%, spending $412.12 million. Director of Onslow County Tourism Salem Clarke says Onslow County now ranks 18th in the State in tourism revenue, saying tourism spending represents a savings of $134.63 per person in taxes they would have had to pay to equate to this income from the tourism industry.
- Lodging – $99.43 million
- Food & Beverage – $93.20 million
- Recreation – $39.98 million
- Retail – $19.37 million
- Transportation – $52.49 million
Officials estimate, North Carolina hosted about 43 million visitors in 2023.