Optimism about state tourism industry

2008-03-19

By: Bob Costner - News 14 Carolina
WINSTON-SALEM -- Even with the pain at the pumps and Wall Street's woes, tourism is strong in North Carolina.

"Last year, North Carolina was the recipient of $16.5 billion in traveler-related spending," said state Commerce Secretary Jim Fain.

Fain was attending the Governor's Conference on Tourism that was being held at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem on Monday. He says the industry was up 7.2 percent from 2006.

Keeping those numbers up in an industry that employs some 190,000 state residents is the goal of around 500 state tourism officials who attended the meeting. They think the economy plays in their favor.

"I think when economic times are good and gas prices are lower, people are willing to travel further distances, but as that changes, they want to stay closer to home," said Lynn Minges with the N.C. Division of Tourism.

So they'll target North Carolina's nine-million residents.


Officials say the state's diverse attractions help and also draw folks from other nearby states.
Officials say the state's diverse attractions help and also draw folks from other nearby states.

North Carolina beaches are touted as a year-round destination

"We always feel that people are going to want to spend some time together no matter how bad things get, and we're just a short drive away," said Carol Lohr, with the Crystal Coast Tourism Authority.

Some think attractions like the restored Moravian village of Old Salem feed the intellect and the need to travel.

And that folks will always take vacations, regardless of economic facts.

"It's not only needed, but it's an entitlement that people think they can't do without," said Bob McCoy, with Visit Winston-Salem.

The upcoming Easter weekend may be one barometer of how the state's tourism industry will fare this year.