The absence of damaging, tourist-chasing hurricanes in 2013 didn’t hurt anybody on the Outer Banks. Meal and lodging earnings are on record pace again, according to recently released figures through September. Prepared-food revenue in Dare County, which encompasses most of the Outer Banks, reached $183.5 million, an increase of 2 percent over the same time last year, when the current record was set. In all of last year, meal receipts totaled $208.7 million, an increase of nearly 10 percent, the largest jump in at least 10 years. The lodging market also thrived. Dare County saw $370.6 million in revenue, a 2.9 percent increase over last year, which also had set a record.
“We’re looking pretty good,” said Lee Nettles, with the Outer Banks VB. Revenue reached $385.2 million in all of 2012, a 4 percent increase over the previous year. Outer Banks tourism revenue has broken records for the last three years despite the economy, hurricanes, road destruction and closed beaches. Hurricanes might stop trips to the Outer Banks, but not a slow economy, Nettles said. “An annual vacation is more of a right than a luxury,” he said.