In 2024, Moore County witnessed an unprecedented $860 million in economic impact from visitor spending, representing a 6.8% increase from the previous year. Moore County remains the 10th highest tourism economy in the state.
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.
“We anticipated a sizable increase in visitor spending for 2024 due to the impact of the U.S. Open in that calendar year,” said President and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Phil Werz in a press release. “The goal is maintaining and increasing that momentum as we approach the next U.S. Open. With the opening of Pinehurst No. 10, the return of the World Golf Hall of Fame and NASCAR to Rockingham and the growth of our destination in several other areas, we continue to be one of the most appealing tourism areas in North Carolina.”
Tourism impact highlights for 2024:
The report also provided visitor spending based on a variety of sectors. Overall, Moore County reports visitor spending totals for 2024 in these areas:
Statewide, visitor spending in 2024 rose 6.9% to reach a record $36.7 billion. That sum represents a 3.1% increase over 2023 expenditures.
The overall analysis for the report draws on the following data sources:
To quantify the level of visitor activity in North Carolina, Tourism Economics combines a number of data sources that look at tourism from different angles to understand visitor economic contributions in North Carolina. The data provides insights from the visitor, local industry, and government perspectives to pinpoint the scope of the travel sector in terms of direct visitor spending, as well as the direct economic impacts, jobs, and fiscal (tax) impacts in the broader economy.
Tourism Economics calibrated the historical TEIM model to align with the official Travel and Tourism Satellite Account maintained by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, while maintaining consistency with historical growth rates.
Various data on travel activity and its resulting impacts were collected from the sources and synthesized into growth estimates maintained by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, while maintaining consistency with historical growth rates. Visitors in the context of this study include those who stayed in overnight accommodations or those who came from a distance greater than 50 miles and deviated from their normal routine.
The findings from the annual report are based on the 2024 calendar year. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB concluded its 2024-25 fiscal year on June 30 with occupancy tax collections of nearly $3.8 million.
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