GRANVILLE COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Domestic and international visitors to and within  Granville County spent $60.8 million in 2023, marking a 3.5% increase from 2022, according to an annual study  commissioned by Visit NC, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. 

“Granville County has demonstrated its ability to maintain the significant tourism growth experienced in 2022,  as the community successfully rebounded from the pandemic with new events and businesses that attracted  fresh visitors to the area,” said Angela Allen, Director of Granville County Tourism Development Authority. 

Recently, the Visit NC staff conducted a Destination Immersion tour of Granville County in July. They  experienced the unique people, places, and activities that have contributed to the growth in visitor spending,  affirming Granville’s appeal as a vibrant and welcoming destination. 

“We experienced first-hand how the tourism industry in Granville County is thriving,” said Wit Tuttell, Executive  Director of Visit NC. “There is a tremendous community spirit and enthusiasm that should allow for tourism to  continue to grow and keep supporting local jobs and adding revenue to the local economy.” 

Tourism Impact Highlights for 2023: 

• The travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 323 people in Granville County. • Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Granville County was $13.7 million. 

• State tax revenue generated in Granville County totaled $2.5 million through state sales and excise  taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $1.9 million in local taxes were generated  from occupancy, sales, and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported  businesses. 

These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2023” report, prepared  for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics. The full study is available at partners.visitnc.com/economic impact-studies. 

“Granville County continues to be a top destination for visitors from across North Carolina and the country,” said  Timothy Karan, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “From our unique festivals and beautiful  communities to our diverse shops, restaurants, and first-class recreational assets, there is truly something for  everyone to discover in Granville. We hope that all who visit our community learn what we already know: that  Granville County is a great place to live, work, and play.”

For more information about Granville County’s events, recreation, shopping, dining, and more, visit  www.visitgranvillenc.com or contact Angela Allen at 919-693-6125. 

Statewide Impact: 

Statewide, visitor spending in 2023 rose 6.9% to reach a record $35.6 billion. Direct tourism employment  increased 4.8% to 227,224. 

“The new study underscores the importance of tourism to every county in North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell.  “There’s a lot of competition for travelers’ time and money, and we owe our success to everything from the  state’s scenic beauty and outdoor adventure to our mix of tradition and innovation and our welcoming spirit.  Those qualities might be hard to measure, but we can follow the trail to a measurable impact on our workforce,  our businesses, and our tax base. We look forward to continued success.” 

North Carolina Tourism Facts: 

• Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $35.6 billion in 2023, a  6.9% increase over 2022. 

• Domestic travelers spent a record $34.6 billion in 2023, up 6.8% from $32.4 billion in 2022. • International travelers spent $997 million in 2023, up 9.5% from the previous year. 

• Visitors to North Carolina generated nearly $4.5 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2023, a 5.8%  increase from 2022. 

• State tax receipts from visitor spending rose 5.6% to $1.3 billion in 2023. 

• Local tax receipts grew 5.4% to $1.2 billion. 

• Direct tourism employment in North Carolina increased 4.8% to 227,224. 

• Direct tourism payroll increased 6.6% to nearly $9.3 billion. 

• Visitors spend more than $97 million per day in North Carolina, adding $7.1 million per day to state and  local tax revenues. 

• Each North Carolina household saved $518 on average in state and local taxes due to visitor spending in  the state. 

• North Carolina hosted about 43 million visitors in 2023. 

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