In 2021, the North Carolina tourism industry saw a major recovery with $28.9 billion in visitor spending.
With domestic travel reaching new heights due to limited international travel, this new total falls below one percent of the record set in 2019 and a 45 percent increase from the pandemic in 2020.
In a press release by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Governor Roy Cooper stated, “We know visitor spending helps fuel our economy in all 100 countries by sustaining local businesses, supporting thousands of jobs and bringing in tax revenue and that’s why we’ve been working to encourage tourism.”
The state’s tourism-supported workforce increased 10.5 percent with 197,500 jobs in 2021, allowing tourism payroll to increase 19 percent to $7.7 billion. As a result of visitor spending, state and local governments saw rebounds in tax revenues to $2.3 billion.
The research, provided by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and Tourism Economics, also shows that in 2021 domestic visitors spent $28.6 billion.
Locally, in Cumberland County, in data provided by Visit NC, in 2020 several expenditures brought in a total of $449.85 million dollars to the county. This is a 27.9 percent decrease from 2019 which totaled to be $623.73 million.
As found in the data by Visit NC, lodging brought in $89.77 million, food and beverage services brought in $170.22 million, recreation brought in $48.90 million, retail brought in $40.59, and transportation brought in $100.37 million to Cumberland County in 2020.
Based on the data provided by Visit NC and the research from the Fayetteville Area and Convention Visitors Bureau, these are the top five functional drivers for visitor spending: shopping, downtown/urban center, military/historic sites, outdoor recreation, and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.
Brian and Staci Graybill opened their third business together, Market Square Pantry, in December 2025. Photo provided by Faith Hatton. For Fayetteville entrepreneurs Brian and Staci Graybill, building a business has often started when they were
The venue features two levels, two fully stocked bars, audio-video systems including projectors, and lighting solutions, an in-house culinary team, lounge space, a bistro section and private rooms, a state-of-the-art DJ booth and on-site staff to hel
Brad and Kelley McLawhorn became business partners in 2001 when they first opened a restaurant on Reilly Road. Now, their highly praised catering company continues to impress community members with flexibility, quality and personalized service. Photo
