ROCKY MOUNTAIN, N.C.— Rockingham County is getting more tourists and the money they spend comes in.
VisitNC’s annual study showed that both domestic and foreign visitors to and within Rockingham County spent 6.4% more in 2023 than the previous year.
“This year’s record-breaking tourism spending is, yet again, a testament to the collaborative efforts between our local businesses, municipal and nonprofit partners, and our office to promote Rockingham County as a great place to paddle, tube, hike, shop, and sip,” said Lindsey Pegg, the Rockingham County Tourism Manager.
The travel and tourism business in Rockingham County gives people from the area a lot of job opportunities. The study found that travel and tourism directly hired more than 688 people in Rockingham County.
The county and North Carolina’s economies are both growing because of the money that tourists spend.
Rockingham County brought in $3.8 million in state taxes and $3.1 million in local taxes from companies that deal with travel. These taxes came from sales, occupancy, and property taxes.
North Carolina had $35.6 billion in tourist spending in 2023, and over 4% more direct tourism jobs were created across the state. It was said that tourists spent more than $97 million a day, which added $7.1 million to state and local tax collections every day.