Greenville Reporter

A report found that visitors to Pitt County spent more than $271 million in 2019, a 4% increase over visitor spending in 2018.

"We are excited to see the positive year-over-year impact travel and tourism is making in our local economy," Andrew Schmidt, president and CEO of Visit Greenville, said in a September release about the report. "Our destination continues to grow and evolve, allowing us to attract visitors from multiple market segments, including leisure, meetings, sports, family reunions, and more to create a positive economic impact and increase awareness of Greenville-Pitt County."

According to the report, in 2019, 2,340 people were employed by Pitt County's travel and tourism industry, generating $57.12 million in payroll. Nearly $14 million in state tax revenue was generated through state sales and excise tax and taxes on personal and corporate income in Pitt County. Local taxes from sales and property tax revenue from travel-related businesses were nearly $6 million.

Overall, visitors to North Carolina spent a combined $26.7 billion in 2019. 

"The numbers confirm the strength of North Carolina's tourism industry as an anchor of economic development," Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina, said. "As the No. 6 state in the country for overnight visitation, we can attribute our success to the natural beauty and authenticity that visitors experience, and to a passionate effort to inform and inspire travelers. The money they spend benefits everyone by sustaining jobs and reducing our residents' tax burden."