Domestic tourism brought in a record $22.9 billion dollars to North Carolina last year. That's despite Hurricane Matthew and boycotts over House Bill 2, the so-called bathroom bill, contributing to a drop in the actual number of visitors to the state.North Carolina has always attracted visitors from the East Coast, but Wit Tuttell of "Visit North Carolina" credits a campaign promoting state parks with increasing in-state tourism.
鈥淲e did a big campaign promoting state parks and trying to get people to extend their stays when going to visit state parks,鈥� Tuttell said.
The state Economic Development Partnership says 97 out of North Carolina's 100 counties saw an uptick in visitor spending in 2016.
Tuttell said even economically distressed counties saw a boost. For example, Cherokee County saw more than 13 percent growth after opening a casino.
鈥淎nd so I think what that shows is that if you add product, if you add things for people to do and see, then people will add that spending,鈥� Tuttell said.
