BizFayetteville logo print

DistiNCtly Fayetteville showcases record-breaking tourism growth and economic impact in annual report

By Staff Report, posted Oct 1, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

DistiNCtly Fayetteville, the destination marketing organization for Fayetteville and Cumberland County, has released its 2024/2025 Annual Report, sharing record-breaking visitor spending, strong marketing results and key organizational achievements. The report highlights a powerful rebound for the region’s tourism economy and the growing role of travel in driving local jobs and tax savings.

“As we reflect on the 2025 fiscal year, I am proud to share that this year marked a powerful resurgence for DistiNCtly Fayetteville—and for the entire Cumberland County tourism community,” said President & CEO of DistiNCtly Fayetteville Devin Heath. “We achieved record-breaking performance across our Sales, Marketing, and Visitor Services teams, surpassing all results since before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This momentum not only speaks to the strength of our strategy but, more importantly, to the dedication and talent of our team.”

2024 tourism impact highlights:

Visitor spending reached $698 million
Tourism supported nearly 4,800 local jobs
Combined income from those jobs totaled $176.49 million
Local and state tax revenue generated: $47.32 million
Average tax savings per county resident: $140.03

The report also highlights major milestones, including reaccreditation through Destinations International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), a 38% increase in paid media impressions and a 211% rise in organic social media engagement.

Additionally, the DistiNCtly Fayetteville team exceeded its volunteer-hour goal, organized a Hurricane Helene relief effort that delivered critical supplies to western North Carolina and celebrated the inaugural year of the Can Do Tourism Academy, a free program designed to train and inspire hospitality workers across the county.

The full 2024/2025 Annual Report can be accessed here.
 

Copyright © 2025 Enhanced Media Management Inc. dba Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
This story may be displayed, reformatted and printed for your personal, noncommercial use only and in accordance with our Terms of Service located at https://bizfayetteville.com/useragreement.