By By CHRIST PROKOS
Staff Writer
After seven years of continued growth and for only the second time since 1991, the economic impact generated by tourist spending in Beaufort County declined in 2009.
The yearly total of $65.26 million was down 1.75 percent from the 2008 total of $66.42 million. The findings came from the Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties, a study prepared for the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development by the U.S. Travel Association. The last downturn was seen in 2001 when domestic tourism spending topped out at $47.77 million, a .42 percent decrease from 2000.
The silver lining of the report was found in the fact that Beaufort County ranked 10th out of the state’s 100 counties in terms of change from 2008. Most saw drops in excess of 1.8 percent while only six counties experienced domestic tourism gains. Overall, Beaufort County ranked 44th in tourism-related revenues in 2009.
“One of the things that has kept our margin as small as it was had a lot to do with the construction of the bypass,” said Lynn Lewis, tourism development director for the City of Washington. “Prior to the bypass, you had a lot of crews in town spending money in the county because they were here on jobs related to the Highway 17 project. We’ve seen a decline since the bypass opened, which presents a whole new set of challenges we have to address to establish ourselves as a destination and how do we capture the traffic that is picking up the bypass.”
One plan is to place billboards on both ends of the U.S. Highway 17 Bypass.
“We are considering a fairly aggressive billboard campaign on the opposite ends of the bypass,” Lewis said. “One is in production, and we’re considering a couple more directing people to Business 17.”
According to the report, 460 jobs in Beaufort County were directly related to travel and tourism in 2009, generating a payroll of $8.92 million. State and local tax revenue yielded $7.65 million which represents a $161.39 tax savings for each county resident, according to the report.
Statewide, domestic tourism revenues were $15.616 billion, a 7.4 percent drop from the 2008 total of $16.9 billion.
“It seems like we are locally hosting more things to bring people here,” said Catherine Glover, executive director of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce. “I think everybody has cut back, and maybe some are taking more day trips instead of overnight trips and coming but not spending as much money.”
Lewis agreed.
“Visitor traffic has been very strong, stronger than in recent years,” Lewis said. “We’re starting to see more day trips and people doing stay-cations, exploring their own area. The numbers were positive for the majority of the state, and the economy really finally caught up with us.”
In neighboring Hyde County, domestic tourism spending jumped 1.57 percent in 2009 to $28.55 million. It was the second consecutive year of growth for the county which includes the Ocracoke Island portion of Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse. Each Hyde County resident realized a $571.64 tax savings as state and local tax revenues reached $3.08 million, according to the report.
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ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TRAVEL
ON N.C. COUNTIES FOR 2009
BEAUFORT COUNTY: Domestic tourism generated an economic impact of $65.26 million, a 1.75 percent decrease from 2008. Beaufort County ranked 44th in travel impact among 100 counties in the state. State and local tax revenues from tourism totaled $7.65 million. More than 460 jobs directly attributed to travel and tourism generated a $8.92 million payroll.
HYDE COUNTY: Domestic tourism generated an economic impact of $28.55 million, a 1.57 percent increase from 2008. Hyde County ranked 68th in travel impact among 100 counties in the state. State and local tax revenues from tourism totaled $3.08 million. More than 390 jobs directly attributed to travel and tourism generated a $5.80 million payroll.
MARTIN COUNTY: Domestic tourism generated an economic impact of $25.37 million, a 10.29 percent decrease from 2008. Martin County ranked 74th in travel impact among 100 counties in the state. State and local tax revenues from tourism totaled $2.12 million. More than 230 jobs directly attributed to travel and tourism generated a $3.99 million payroll.
WASHINGTON COUNTY: Domestic tourism generated an economic impact of $12.01 million, a 9.56 percent decrease from 2008. Washington County ranked 89th in travel impact among 100 counties in the state. State and local tax revenues from tourism totaled $1.23 million. More than 90 jobs directly attributed to travel and tourism generated a $1.68 million payroll.
Source: U.S. Travel Association study prepared for the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.