The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development announced that domestic visitors to and within Guilford Country spent just over $1 billion in 2011, an increase of 8.6% from 2010.
"Guilford County ranks third in the state in travel and tourism expenditures, with over $1 billion generated in 2011 and more than 11,700 people employed in travel-related jobs." said Henri Fourrier, President of the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Travel is a broad and diverse industry employing a vast workforce, from airline and hotel employees, restaurants and attractions."
Tourism impact highlights for 2011:
• The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 11,700 in Guilford County.
• Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Guilford County was over $261 million
• State tax revenue generated in Guilford County totaled just over $57 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $25 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.
Gov. Beverly Perdue announced in May that visitors to North Carolina spent a record $18.4 billion in 2011, an increase of 8.2 percent from 2010.
These statistics are from the "2011 Economic Impact Of Travel On North Carolina Counties." The study was prepared for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development by the U.S. Travel Association.
Statewide highlights include:
• State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending neared $1 billion in 2011 and have increased nearly 52 percent in the last 10 years.
• Visitors spend more than $50 million per day in North Carolina and contribute over $4.3 million per day in state and local tax revenues as a result of that spending (nearly $3 million in state taxes and over $1.5 million in local taxes).
• The travel and tourism industry directly employees nearly 200,000 North Carolinians.