As economies begin to see signs of recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, local counties are already seeing the impacts of a growing tourism industry in their areas. 

According to an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, visitors to Bladen County in 2021, both domestic and international, lead to a 54.3 percent increase in spending from 2020 with a total of $56.95 million spent in 2021 surpassing pre-Covid numbers.

“Our significant increase can be attributed to large local investments in our tourism properties and attraction, the promotion of outdoor recreation through the Mother Nature’s Playground campaign, and a renewed interest in everyone working together to bring tourists to our area,” Terri Dennison, White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce executive director shared in a press release. 

Bladen County businesses continue to benefit from the boost in visitors following the height of the pandemic. 

The “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2021” provided statistics regarding the tourism industry and the revenue it generated. The 2021 data revealed that the travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 248 individuals in Bladen County. Total payroll produced by the tourism industry in Bladen County was $10.4 million.

State sales taxes, excise taxes, and income taxes generated a total of $2.5 million in revenue, and approximately $1.9 million in local taxes were produced from sales and property tax revenue from travel-related businesses.