Pittsboro, NC – Domestic and international visitors to and within Chatham County spent $85.96 million in 2024, an increase of 7.9% from 2023. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit NC, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
“Our team is thrilled to see the increase in visitors as we continue to support Chatham County’s tourism and hospitality industry, our guests, plus our film production and sporting events,” said Neha Shah, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), which is the official destination marketing organization for Chatham County. “Chatham’s diverse and distinctive assets provide an array of options that inspires us to be creative in presenting memorable itineraries to our leisure, business, and group travelers.”
Tourism impact highlights for 2024:
- The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 690 in Chatham County.
- Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Chatham County was $25.21 million.
- State tax revenue generated in Chatham County totaled $3.5 million for state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income.
About $3.15 million in local taxes were generated from occupancy, sales, and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses, resulting in a tax savings of $85.91 for each county resident.
These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2024,” 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 2024 rose 3.1 percent to reach a record $36.7 billion. Direct tourism employment increased 1.4 percent to 230,338.
“The study confirms the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “The fact of spending growth, even in the headwinds of Hurricane Helene, underscores the industry’s vitality and the appeal of our destinations and the authentic cultural, recreational, and culinary experiences that travelers find rewarding.”
Highlights from the statewide report include:
- Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $36.7 billion in 2024. That sum represents a 3.1% increase over 2023 expenditures.
- Visitors spend more than $100 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $7.3 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $3.6 million in local taxes).
- Each North Carolina household saved $593 on average in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state. Savings per capita averaged $242.
The CVB is fully funded by revenues generated by the occupancy tax on lodging facilities in Chatham County. Additional information on the CVB and attractions and events in Chatham County can be found at visitpittsboro.com.