Charlotte Spotlights "Travel Then and Now" during National Travel & Tourism Week
National week-long celebration touts the vital importance of the tourism industry in the Charlotte region and U.S.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 9, 2018) – In collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association and destinations across the nation, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) is celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) through May 12, 2018.
In 2016, the Charlotte region hosted approximately 27.8 million visitors annually,1 and tourism-related visitor spending exceeded $6.7 billion.2 The valuable economic impact produced by the industry positively impacts Charlotte year after year, employing one in nine peopleand creating opportunities that benefit the city’s quality of life and infrastructure.
"As we celebrate Charlotte's 250th anniversary this year, it's appropriate that we look back not only on the history of our city but also how tourism has spurred enhancements to our infrastructure and overall quality of life here,” says CRVA CEO Tom Murray. “Advances in accessible transportation, including the recent upgrades to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and the expansion of the LYNX Blue Line light rail, and first-class facilities like the U.S. National Whitewater Center and BB&T Ballpark all contribute to our city's appeal to leisure and business travelers.”
The theme of this year’s NTTW, “Travel Then and Now,” highlights the travel industry’s history of economic impact in every corner of America and its enduring ethos of welcoming travelers from near and far. Across Charlotte, tourism employs a diverse workforce, from airline and hotel employees to restaurant, attraction and retail workers, and supports related sectors such as construction, manufacturing and finance.
Additionally, research from the U.S. Travel Association and the CRVA highlights the impact of tourism both nationally and locally:
- The U.S. travel industry supports 15.6 million American workers—8.8 million directly and 6.8 million indirectly.3
- In Charlotte, the leisure and hospitality industry is the fourth-largest employer behind healthcare, government and professional services.2
- Travel-related spending generated $75.6 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues in 2017.3
- In Charlotte, there are more than 131,000 jobs in the hospitality and leisure industry with visitor spending directly supporting 64,500 of those jobs. Without visitor spending, unemployment would more than double the current rate of 4 percent in Charlotte.2
- Top leisure travel activities for U.S. domestic travelers: (1) visiting relatives; (2) shopping; (3) visiting friends; (4) fine dining; and (5) rural sightseeing.3
- Mecklenburg County residents save $352 in taxes each year because of tourism tax revenues.2
In addition to its benefits for the local economy, travel can also have a positive effect on personal well-being for residents and visitors of Charlotte, North Carolina. Numerous research studies have confirmed the positive health effects of travel and time off, from reducing the risk of heart disease to decreasing depression. Using time off to travel with family is good for everyone, especially our children—kids who travel with their families are more likely to attend college and earn more as adults.
2017 tourism research findings for North Carolina, including the counties in the Charlotte region, are expected to come out later this summer. To learn more about tourism in the Charlotte region, visit crva.com.
12016 Travel USA Study by Longwoods International.
2The 2016 visitor spending figures come from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association. The study uses sales and tax revenue data, employment figures, and other industry and economic data to determine the overall impact of visitor spending in North Carolina. Full tables can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com.South Carolina data reflects 2015 research provided by South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT).The Average MSA Tax Savings per Resident is calculated by taking the total state and local tax collections for the 10 counties in the MSA and dividing it by total population of those 10 counties (2,454,856 according to the 2016 Population Estimates from the U.S. Census).
32017 data from the U.S. Travel Association.
Request to download Charlotte images for National Travel & Tourism Week at barberstock.com/charlotte.
About Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA)
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’ Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Regional Film Commission and Visit Charlotte in conjunction with the region’s destination marketing brand. For more information, visit charlottesgotalot.com.
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