Effective as of September 4: North Carolina transitions into Phase 2.5 of reopening. Restaurants, salons/personal care businesses, and pools are open at 50% capacity and there is a statewide requirement for face coverings where social distancing is not possible. More Resources
"This industry supports the livelihoods of more than 15 million Americans, whose careers have blossomed. And it is one place where the right things matter most—reliability, hustle and attitude. These are the people who help others connect because hospitality runs in their DNA, fueling the travel industry's continued success. These are the jobs and the people we should be celebrating."
This National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3-9) honors the spirit of travel in recognition of the industry’s strength, selflessness and resiliency. Although we can’t meet in person, we can stay connected, unified and supportive of each other from afar, rallying around the #SpiritOfTravel. The spirit of travel isn’t only found in far-off places. When residents embrace the spirit of travel by supporting local businesses and helping their neighbors, they are also playing a key role in rebuilding their community—and America.
Domestic travelers spent a record $25.3 billion in 2018, up from $23.9 billion in 2017. That’s an increase of 5.6 percent.
Visitors to North Carolina generated about $3.9 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2018. That total represents a 4.8 percent increase from 2017.
Direct tourism employment in North Carolina increased 2.2 percent to 230,560.
Visitors spend more than $69 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $5.64 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.5 million in state taxes and $2.1 million in local taxes).
Each North Carolina household saves on average $532 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.
More than 45,000 businesses in North Carolina directly provide products and services to travelers, with travelers directly contributing more than 26 percent to their total products and services.
North Carolina hosted over 51 million visitors in 2018.
Why Does Tourism Matter to the Lake Norman Area?
Every time a visitor spends money in our towns they also pay taxes. Those tax dollars do not come from us, the residents, but contribute directly to our schools, help expand our roads, and provide services like police, fire, and rescue.
Last fiscal year, VLN helped bring in over 128,000 attendees that generated approximately $23.6 million in estimated economic impact.
Last year, VLN returned $28.19 to each town per every dollar funded. ($838,654.16)
1 in 9 employed people in Mecklenburg County work in the hospitality and leisure markets.
