North Carolina Breaks Tourism Spending Record in 2025
Visitors to North Carolina have set a new record in travel expenditures, as revealed by Governor Josh Stein. In 2025, tourists spent over $37.2 billion while visiting the state, surpassing the previous record of $36.7 billion set in 2024.
Governor Josh Stein expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “North Carolina remains a great place to visit from our beautiful shore to our breathtaking mountains.” Despite recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene last year, tourism spending hit new heights, demonstrating the state’s appeal and economic resilience. Stein emphasized the role of tourism in supporting jobs, sustaining small businesses, and driving economic progress.
The announcement aligns with National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3-9), a nationwide effort to highlight the economic importance of travel. During this week, the state’s Welcome Centers are hosting activities to celebrate the industry.
Governor Stein has been actively promoting North Carolina’s tourist attractions. In February, he visited the state’s ski resorts to spotlight North Carolina as the “Winter Capital of the South.” This sector alone generates over $244 million annually and draws 780,000 visitors each year. To further boost tourism, last year, Governor Stein and First Lady Anna Stein initiated the “Rediscover the Unforgettable” campaign.
The Governor’s ongoing efforts include a state budget proposal aimed at bolstering tourism in western North Carolina, affected by Hurricane Helene.
Tourism’s impact on employment and tax revenue in North Carolina is significant. In 2025, the tourism-supported workforce grew by 0.3% to 230,997 jobs, with a payroll increase of 3.5% to $9.8 billion. Visitor spending also resulted in more than $2.7 billion in state and local tax revenues.
Research conducted by Visit North Carolina, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), and Tourism Economics indicates that North Carolina ranks seventh in domestic visitation in the U.S., following California, Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Domestic travelers spent a record $36.1 billion, while international spending slightly decreased to $1.1 billion.
NC Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley remarked, “Residents of all 100 North Carolina counties benefit from the money that visitors spend,” underscoring tourism’s role in supporting nearly 50,000 small businesses and the local workforce. Lilley notes that tourism contributes to an average yearly saving of $605 per household in state and local taxes.
Key Tourism Statistics:
- Total visitor spending reached $37.2 billion in 2025, a 1.3% increase over 2024.
- Domestic travel spending was $36.1 billion, marking a 1.5% rise from 2024.
- International travel spending decreased by 2.8% to $1.1 billion.
- Tourism generated over $4.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, up 2.5% from 2024.
- State tax receipts from visitor spending rose 2.0% to nearly $1.4 billion.
- Local tax receipts increased by 2.6% to more than $1.3 billion.
- Direct tourism employment rose by 0.3% to 230,997 jobs.
- Direct tourism payroll increased by 3.5% to $9.8 billion.
- Visitors spend over $101 million daily, contributing $7.5 million per day to state and local tax revenues.
- North Carolina households saved an average of $605 in taxes due to visitor spending.
About Visit North Carolina:
Visit NC is the state’s official destination marketing organization, operating under the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The EDPNC focuses on economic development through business recruitment, industry support, international trade, tourism, and film marketing. Visit NC promotes North Carolina as a top destination for leisure, events, and business, with visitors spending over $37 billion annually and the industry supporting over 230,000 jobs. For more information, visit VisitNC.com.
Read More Here
Comments are closed.