2023 Visitor Impact for Mecklenburg County
Charlotte, N.C.— Domestic and international visitors to and within Mecklenburg County spent $5.8 billion in 2023, marking a 9.6% increase from 2022. This data is from an annual study commissioned by VisitNC, a division of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
"Mecklenburg County continues to lead North Carolina as a top destination for travelers," said Steve Bagwell, Chief Executive Officer of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). "In Charlotte, hospitality is more than just an industry; it's a way of life that profoundly shapes how we live, work, and play."
In addition to the record visitor spending, Mecklenburg County saw a significant increase in employment within the tourism sector. The county now boasts the largest number of direct tourism employees in the state, with over 36,310 jobs—a growth of 8.0% from 2022.
The CRVA’s regional footprint includes 11 North Carolina counties—Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union—along with four South Carolina counties: Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster, and York. While visitor spending data is not reported for the South Carolina counties, total visitor spending for the region, excluding those counties, amounts to $8 billion.
Tourism Impact Highlights for 2023:
- Mecklenburg County ranked #1 in visitor spending, capturing 16.4% of the total visitor spend in the state.
- Total visitor spending for the CRVA region totals $8 billion.
- The travel and tourism industry directly employs an estimated 36,310 in Mecklenburg County, the highest in North Carolina. Regionally, 148,200 are employed.
- Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Mecklenburg County reached $1.96 billion.
- State tax revenue generated in Mecklenburg County totaled $206 million through state sales and excise taxes, along with taxes on personal and corporate income. Additionally, $185.7 million in local taxes were generated from occupancy, sales, and property taxes related to travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.
- Tax revenue from visitors spending in Mecklenburg County created a tax savings of $337 per resident.
These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2023,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics.
Statewide, visitor spending in 2023 rose 6.9 percent to reach a record $35.6 billion. Direct tourism employment increased 4.8 percent to 227,224.
“The new study underscores the importance of tourism to every county in North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of VisitNC. “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.”
NC tourism facts:
- Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $35.6 billion in 2023. That sum represents a 6.9 percent increase over 2022 expenditures.
- Domestic travelers spent a record $34.6 billion in 2023. Spending was up 6.8 percent from $32.4 billion in 2022.
- International travelers spent $997 million in 2023, up 9.5 percent from the previous year.
- Visitors to North Carolina generated nearly $4.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2023. The total represents a 5.8 percent increase from 2022.
- State tax receipts from visitor spending rose 5.6 percent to $1.3 billion in 2023.
- Local tax receipts grew 5.4 percent to $1.2 billion.
- Direct tourism employment in North Carolina increased 4.8 percent to 227,224.
- Direct tourism payroll increased 6.6 percent to nearly $9.3 billion.
- Visitors spend more than $97 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $7.1 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $3.4 million in local taxes).
- Each North Carolina household saved $518 on average in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state. Savings per capita averaged $239.
- North Carolina hosted about 43 million visitors in 2023.
About the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) works to deliver experiences that uniquely enrich the lives of our visitors and residents. Through leadership in destination development, marketing and venue management expertise, the CRVA leads efforts to maximize the region’s economic potential through visitor spending, creating jobs and opportunities for the community. Brands supported by the CRVA include the Charlotte Convention Center, Spectrum Center, Bojangles Entertainment Complex, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Film Commission, Visit Charlotte, in conjunction with the region’s destination marketing brand and Visitor Info Centers. For more information, visit crva.com.