Parts of the Tri-County saw a boost in tourism dollars last year.
Earlier this month, the state released the latest visitor spending figures in a study called “The Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties.”
Vance and Warren counties experienced an increase in visitor spending from 2013, while Granville County had a slight decrease from the previous year.
The annual study is commissioned by Visit North Carolina and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association.
The study calculates tourism spending using sales and tax revenue data, employment figures, and other industry and economic data, according the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
Visitor spending in Vance County increased 2.97 percent from 2013, and it grew 1.38 percent in Warren County.
In Granville County, visitor spending fell about 0.4 percent.
Nancy Wilson, Vance County tourism director, said she attributed the increase last year to good weather, special events and an improving economy.
“We saw a slight decrease in gas prices,” she said in an email. “People traveled closer to home but took more leisure-time vacations.”
Wilson said she is pleased that vacationers and travelers selected Vance County and Kerr Lake as a destination site.
“Tourism fuels the local economy and broadens the tax base,” she said.
Peggy Richardson, Warren County economic development coordinator, said the county has seen slow and steady growth in visitor spending over the past several years.
“I think it is because of the pleasant experiences offered by our local businesses, and there are a lot things here people enjoy doing,” Richardson said.
She said festivals, state parks and the rural beauty of the county and the lakes are a few reasons visitors come to Warren County.
“Looking at the data, it’s absolutely going in the right direction,” she said of visitor spending trends in Warren County.
Granville Economic Development Director Harry Mills said he could not explain the decrease in tourism spending but added that the tourism director position was vacant for several months until recently.
“We will be working very closely together to make sure we are successful, and we expect to see great things,” he said of collaborating with Angela Allen, who is the new tourism director for Granville County.
Mills said he anticipates large crowds of out-of-town visitors for upcoming events, such as the Creedmoor Music Festival on Sept. 19 and Oxford Hot Sauce Festival on Sept. 12.
“Right now, we are really working hard,” he said. “And I think next year we will see a difference.”
Contact the writer at smansur@hendersondispatch.com.
Visitor spending data for 2014
County Total visitor expenditures Percent change from 2013
Vance: $44.1 million 2.97 percent
Granville: $44.3 million -0.38 percent
Warren: $26.01 million 1.38 percent
Source: The Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2014, U.S. Travel Association
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