MCEDP

[Southern Pines, NC] In 2023, Moore County witnessed an unprecedented $805.1 million in economic impact from visitor spending representing a 7.4 percent increase from the previous year. Moore County remains the tenth highest tourism economy in the state, its highest ranking in history. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), and compiled by Tourism Economics in collaboration with U.S. Travel Association.

“Moore County continues to grow consistently every year from a tourism perspective and we are one of the most desirable destinations in all of North Carolina,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “While these numbers reflect the calendar year of 2023, we know the report for 2024 will show even greater growth as we hosted the U.S. Open and we saw new places open like the World Golf Hall of Fame, Pinehurst No. 10, the BHAWK Distillery, and our first brewery in Carthage at The Buggy Factory. Add to that the amazing dining, shopping, our history, the arts, outdoor recreation and agritourism and we have something for everybody and for all ages.”

Moore County Tourism Impact Highlights for 2023:

• Moore County ranks tenth among 100 counties in North Carolina for annual visitor spending.
• The tourism industry employs 6,000 people in Moore County, an increase of 7.1% from the previous year.
• Tourism in Moore County saved each resident $532.10 in taxes. The state average was $518. The report also showed that $26.1 million in local taxes was derived from visitor spending in 2023, an increase of 5.6%.
• State tax revenue generated by tourism in Moore County totaled $30.8 million, an increase from $28.9 million from 2022.

These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2023,” which can be accessed at: partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies.

The report also provided visitor spending based on a variety of sectors. Overall, Moore County reports visitor spending totals for 2023 in these areas: Lodging ($203 million, up from $192 million in 2022); Food and Beverage ($242.1 million, up from $222.9 million in 2022); Recreation ($115.4 million, up from $101.7 million in 2022); Retail ($65.4 million, up from $63.6 million in 2022) and Transportation ($179.0 million, up from $169.2 million in 2022).

Statewide, visitor spending in 2023 rose 6.9 percent to reach a record $35.6 billion. Direct tourism employment increased 4.8 percent to 227,224.

“The new study underscores the importance of tourism to every county in North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “There’s a lot of competition for travelers’ time and money, and we owe our success to everything from the state’s scenic beauty and outdoor adventure to our mix of tradition and innovation and our welcoming spirit. Those qualities might be hard to measure, but we can follow the trail to a measurable impact on our workforce, our businesses and our tax base. We look forward to continued success.”

The findings from the annual report are based on the 2023 calendar year. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB concluded its 2023-24 fiscal year on June 30^th with occupancy tax collections exceeding $3.9 million, an increase of 21.7 percent from the previous fiscal year.

The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2023, Moore County ranked as the tenth largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $805 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county and saves county residents approximately $532 a year in state and local taxes.