On behalf of local taxpayers and everyone involved in the Crystal Coast’s tourism economy, I extend our deep thanks to state Rep. Pat McElraft for securing additional funding for tourism marketing in the N.C. House’s proposed state budget for 2015-2016.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the Crystal Coast’s economy is built on tourism – which in turn depends on advertising and other marketing initiatives to attract visitors to our area.
In 2013 alone, tourism generated an economic impact of $303 million in Carteret County, up 7 percent from the year before. More than 3,000 of our local citizens work in travel and tourism, with an annual payroll of $53 million. The industry produced more than $31 million in state and local taxes that support public services, saving each county resident $450 a year.
Statewide, visitors spent $21.3 billion in North Carolina last year, up 5.4 percent to an all-time record. The state’s tourism industry employed 205,000 North Carolinians, with an annual payroll of almost $5 billion, while generating $3.2 billion in state and local taxes.
But all of that depends on tourism marketing, which provides a very strong return on investment. A recent study found that for every dollar spent on tourism advertising, the state attracts $184 in new visitor spending and generates $15 in new state and local tax revenue.
And yet North Carolina’s tourism funding ranks only 32nd nationally, $7 million to $22 million a year less than competitor states such as Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Michigan.
We’re fortunate that Rep. McElraft wisely recognizes the tremendous economic benefit the tourism industry bestows upon the Crystal Coast and all of North Carolina. Let’s hope our state’s 169 other legislators do, too.
Trace Cooper, mayor, Atlantic Beach, chairman, Crystal Coast Tourism Authority
Leave a Reply