2019 Visitor Economic Impact for Randolph County

Asheboro, NC – Domestic visitors to and within Randolph County spent $161.65 million in 2019, an increase of 5.3% from 2018. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

“The tourism industry is a vital source of Randolph County’s economic success. We’ve seen a boost in revenues, creation of jobs, and development of infrastructure as a result of visitor spending,” said Amber Scarlett, Executive Director of Randolph County Tourism Development Authority. “Visitors travel to experience our destination’s culture, making it profitable for our local restaurants and unique stores throughout our county.”

Tourism impact highlights for 2019:

• The travel and tourism industry directly employs 1.08 thousand in Randolph County, an increase of 3% from 2018.
• The total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Randolph County was $26.33 million.
• State tax revenues generated in Randolph County totaled $9.70 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $2.62 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenues from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

Visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2019. The $26.7 billion in total spending represented an increase of 5.6% from 2018.

These statistics are from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2019,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.

“The numbers confirm the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry as an anchor of economic development,” said Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina. “As the number 6 state in the country for overnight visitation, we can attribute our success to the natural beauty and authenticity that visitors experience, and to a passionate effort to inform and inspire travelers. The money they spend benefits, everyone, by sustaining jobs and reducing our residents’ tax burden.”

Statewide highlights include:

• State tax receipts because of visitor spending rose 5.0% to more than $1.3 billion in 2019.
• Visitors spend more than $73 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $5.92 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $2.2 million in local taxes).
• The travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 235,000 North Carolinians.
• Each North Carolina household saves on average $551 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.

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Amber Scarlett, Executive Director

Randolph County Tourism Development Authority

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