NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) –
It looks like tourists are spending more in New Hanover County, according to a county-by-county tourism economic impact study by Visit North Carolina.
The study said travel and tourism in the county during 2014 directly provided more than 5,680 jobs, paying $113.27 million to employees. Travel and tourism in New Hanover County also generated $43.93 million in state and local tax receipts, saving each resident about $202.45.
“We are pleased to report that tourism spending and direct tourism employment for New Hanover County increased in 2014, setting a new record that breaks the $500 million mark,” Kim Hufham said in a news release. “We are further encouraged that New Hanover County Room Occupancy Tax [ROT] collections for fiscal year 2014/2015 also confirm record growth, breaking the $10 million mark. Based on ROT reports July 2014 through June 2015, countywide collections were up 9.74% over prior year, setting a new ROT benchmark for the fourth consecutive year. When tourism revenues are up it not only means more jobs and a better quality of life for our local citizens, it also means more money to fund beach renourishment, the Wilmington Convention Center and other tourism-related projects.”
The annual study was prepared for Visit NC by the U.S. Travel Association and revealed a 6.33% increase in 2014 in New Hanover County over 2013 expenditures. New Hanover maintains its rank as number eight amount North Carolina’s 100 counties in tourism expenditures.
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