We’re happy to report that domestic and international visitors to Cherokee County spent $101.4 million in 2023, an increase of 2.6% from 2022. This data comes from an annual study commissioned by VisitNC, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
“Tourism is a critical aspect of our local economy here in Cherokee County. 2024 saw record numbers in lodging, continuing the positive trend from the 2023 impact study. The TDA’s mission is to promote travel and tourism in the area to enhance the quality of life for our citizens. These figures reflect the positive impact that tourism has on our businesses, workforce, and taxpayers,” Casey Kerr, executive director of the Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority, said in a release.
Kerr was kind enough to put together some local tourism impact highlights for 2023:
- The travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 589 people in Cherokee County.
- Total payroll generated by the tourism industry was $20.3 million.
- State tax revenue generated $3.1 million through state sales, excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $4.1 million in local taxes were generated from occupancy, sales, and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.
- State/local tax savings per resident was $241.59 annually.
These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2023,” which can be accessed online at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics.
Kerr and the county’s TDA are doing good work spreading the word about our little corner of paradise. Remember, every tax dollar that comes in from tourists is a tax dollar local residents won’t have to pay.
– Publisher David Brown