Tourist spending declines

While visitor spending increased for 62 of the state's 100 counties in 2008, tourist spending in Alleghany County fell slightly, according to data recently released by the office of Gov. Bev Perdue.

Overall, 16 counties had increases of more than 5 percent, while Alleghany's neighboring North Carolina counties had mixed results, with increases seen in two and declines reported in two.

Estimates of tourist spending in Alleghany County were estimated at $19.39 million, down .2 percent from 2007. The data shows that Alleghany had $3.69 million in payroll and 180 jobs as a result of travel and tourism.

Alleghany Chamber of Commerce Director Bob Bamberg said such a small change is not that significant.

"We are such a small county that I caution making too much of such a small change up or down," he said.

As for decline in the expenditures, Bamberg said he is not sure exactly how the report derives its data, but noted that his office has seen a decline in the number of visitors here with buying property in mind.

"We saw a sharp drop in visitors who were here last year to purchase real estate," he said. "I believe the number of visitors here for other reasons was up, but did not completely make up the shortfall."

In the past, Bamberg said he deduced that as many as 30 percent of the visitors to the county were considering purchasing real estate when they came here.