Tourism Dollars Increasing in NC and in Wilkes

Gov. Bev Perdue has announced that all of the state’s 100 counties saw increases in visitor spending in 2011, including seven counties that had double-digit increases.  Domestic visitors to and within North Carolina spent a record $18 billion in 2011, an increase of 8 percent from 2010. For the first time, state tax receipts from visitor spending neared $1 billion in 2011.  Visitor expenditures directly generated 187,900 jobs and more than $4 billion in payroll income within North Carolina in 2011.  Locally, tourism in Wilkes County generated an economic impact of $62.33 million in 2011. This was a 7.86 % increase from 2010, so Wilkes County ranked 51 in travel impact among North Carolina's 100 Counties.  More than 490 jobs in Wilkes County were directly attributable to travel and tourism.  Travel generated a $8.85 million payroll in 2011.  State and local tax revenues from travel to Wilkes County amounted to $4.65 million. This represents a $67.41 tax saving to each county resident.  Area attractions include the Blue Ridge Parkway, Tory Oak, Old Wilkes Jail in historic Wilkesboro, Stone Mountain and Doughton Parks, W. Kerr Scott Reservoir and Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest.  The visitor spending figures come from an annual study commissioned by the Division of Tourism and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association.  The study uses sales and tax revenue data plus employment figures to determine the overall impact of visitor spending in North Carolina.