| 112th Year, 46th Issue | Thursday, June 28, 2001 | Sparta, North Carolina |
In 2000, the North Carolina High Country's tourism expenditures totaled $340.07 million, an increase of almost $16 million over 1999, according to statistics recently released by Travel Industry of America for the six-county region of the N.C. High Country Host.
The annual study, prepared by the Travel Industry of America, uses tourist expenditures, payroll, employment and state and local tax receipts for North Carolina's 100 counties to determine N.C.'s statewide figures. Statewide, domestic travelers spent $12 billion in 2000.
All six high country counties experienced a gain over 1999. Alleghany County's tourism expenditures totaled $14.41 million (up from $13 million); Ashe County's totaled $29.06 million (up from $26.05 million); Avery County's totaled $75.74 million (up from $73.28 million); Mitchell County's totaled $17.95 million (up from $17.27 million); Watauga County's totaled $151.29 million (up from $143.64 million); and Wilkes County's totaled $51.72 million (up from $49.98 million).
Additionally, the figures pointed out that travel and tourism provides jobs for over 5,440 high country residents with a payroll of more than $85,850,000.
Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News!
Email: news@alleghanynews.com