North Carolina will recognize National Travel & Tourism Week this month with a range of events locally and statewide designed to highlight the contributions of the travel and tourism industry to the state’s economy. Local communities and businesses are encouraged to mark the period from May 3 through May 17 with events to showcase to policymakers and citizens the integral role tourism plays in the economies all 100 counties in North Carolina.
Visitors traveling to and within the state of North Carolina spent a record $17 billion in 2010, supporting more than 40,000 North Carolina businesses and directly supporting 183,900 jobs all across the state. State and local tax revenues generated as a result of visitor spending totals more than $1.5 billion annually.
North Carolina ranks as the sixth most visited state in the United States. The state’s natural scenic beauty, rich history and culture, vibrant cities, quaint small towns, and central East Coast location make it an ideal travel destination. And the abundance of direct air access into the state from national and international destinations around the globe has helped to position it as a preferred international travel destination.
The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Divison of Tourism, Film and Sports Development is joining the N.C. Travel & Tourism Coalition, the N.C. Travel Industry Association, and other industry partners to emphasize the economic benefits of tourism. North Carolina’s nine Welcome Centers will mark the period with celebrations with partners to thank visitors for traveling to the state, and the state’s official recognition of Tourism Day will be on May 16 with a full slate of activities in Raleigh.