North Carolina

NC tourism going gangbusters, with state among top US destinations | Robesonian

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2024

NC tourism going gangbusters, with state among top US destinations | Robesonian

RALEIGH — The North Carolina tourism economy reached its highest level ever in 2023, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday, with travelers spending more than $35.6 billion on trips to and within the state.

That’s up almost 7% from the previous record in 2022, according to the governor’s office. The state also rose to fifth in the nation for domestic visitation, behind California, Florida, Texas and New York.

Direct tourism employment in the state increased almost 5% to 227,200 jobs in 2023, and direct tourism payroll increased to $9.3 billion, the governor’s office said.

The preliminary findings come from research commissioned by Visit North Carolina, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. But tourism organizations in three regions of the state that talked with Carolina Public Press for this article also described successful efforts to draw in more tourists in each part of the state.

Inflation is part of what made 2023 a record year, as spending in general has increased, said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit North Carolina. But the agency also was able to target off-season advertising, such as marketing ski areas, with money from the legislature, he said.

“North Carolina is still a very seasonal tourism destination and so the more we can spread that out, that brings those dollars to areas in times where they need it more,” he said.

International traveler spending in the state also rose almost 10% from the previous year, to $997 million in 2023, the governor’s office said.

North Carolina isn’t as popular for international visitors as other areas of the U.S., Tuttell said. But those tend to be valuable visitors, as they often stay longer and spend more, he said.

The state works with other states in the South to jointly advertise, he said, because typical international visitors travel throughout the region.

It’s also better for Southern states not to go after a first-time international visitor, who will likely want to see California or New York, he said. Instead, the region targets veteran travelers who want the Southern experience, he said.

Visit North Carolina also tries to prevent over-tourism by making sure visitors enhance an area instead of detracting from it, Tuttell said. Part of that involves targeting whom the state markets itself to, he said, such as the Outdoor NC program, which emphasizes protecting resources and sustainability.

Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, tourism organizations across the state are preparing for visitors. Those in Raleigh, Wilmington and Western N.C. talked to CPP about the weekend ahead and tourism in their areas.

Raleigh gateway for NC tourists

Raleigh and the Wake County area have strong leisure visitation even apart from holidays, said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of Visit Raleigh. That will continue this weekend with events such as the NCAA women’s lacrosse championship and the Japanese animation and cultural convention Animazement, he said.

The area is accustomed to large events, he said, and the agency alerts hotels and restaurants beforehand of when peak times might be.

In terms of attracting international versus domestic visitors, Edwards said the agency promotes the entire state to international visitors, with Raleigh acting as a gateway.

For domestic visitors, the focus is on the local area, he said.

Wilmington tourism

The Wilmington area is ready for the expected crowds of Memorial Day weekend, said Kim Hufham, president and CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority.

Lifeguards start working daily and local businesses usually increase seasonal staff, according to Connie Nelson, communications and public relations director for the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is the business name of the New Hanover tourism authority.

Each of the past couple years have been record-breaking in tourism expenditures and room occupancy tax collections in the county, Hufham said. The growth is just now leveling off after jumping post-pandemic lockdown, she said.

Most of the area’s visitors come from within North Carolina, Hufham said, but they also see large numbers from Northeastern states such as Pennsylvania and New York.

NC mountain tourism

In Asheville, restaurant reservations have begun to fill up, recent dance performances sold out and more tubers are going down the French Broad River, said Dodie Stephens, vice president of marketing at Explore Asheville.

Most Asheville visitors come from areas within a day’s drive, Stephens said, so the agency markets primarily to those people. Travelers who fly in tend to stay longer and move around the community more, she said, so the agency works with Asheville Airport to encourage those visitors.

Flights from Florida into Asheville are increasing, said Craig Distl, a public relations representative for Visit Hendersonville. The agency targets those visitors year-round as the N.C. mountains are some of the closest to Floridians, he said.

Memorial Day weekend means crowds of around 200,000 for Hendersonville, Distl said, as the town holds the Garden Jubilee festival downtown.

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North Carolina

Duarte girl kidnapped in 2020 at 5 years old found safe in North Carolina

Published

37 minutes ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Duarte girl kidnapped in 2020 at 5 years old found safe in North Carolina

A girl who was kidnapped from Duarte in 2020 when she was just 5 years old has been found safe in North Carolina.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said it found Karen Rojas, who is now 11, on Tuesday. She was enrolled in school under an alias, according to investigators.

Authorities said she was kidnapped on June 2, 2020.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services notified Washington County law enforcement that she may be in the state.

They coordinated with several agencies, located the girl and took her into protective custody.

“These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation, stories with positive outcomes like these can happen,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.

Due to the age of the child, further information was not immediately available.

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North Carolina

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

Published

13 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

A new list from WorldAtlas named the publication’s top 10 favorite North Carolina towns of 2026, including several locations located in Western North Carolina.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

Previous Citizen Times articles have covered numerous mentions of Western North Carolina from WorldAtlas, including “idyllic” and “unpretentious” towns, scenic drives, a favorite downtown area, and more. In the new list, published March 9, WorldAtlas writers chose their all-time favorite North Carolina towns ― almost half of which were located in the western region of the state.

Here’s what WorldAtlas had to say about mountain North Carolina towns, plus the full list and more.

What to do in Banner Elk, N.C.

WorldAtlas noted the range of activities offered in Banner Elk throughout the year. The town sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains between the Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain ski resorts. Writers highlighted the following locations and activities in Banner Elk:

Wildcat Lake, which has a lifeguarded white-sand beach and is used for swimming, non-motorized boating and fishing for largemouth bass, trout, and bluegill
Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, a museum located at Grandfather Mountain
The Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest suspension footbridge in the United States, which visitors can cross on foot

What to do in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Also included on the WorldAtlas list, Blowing Rock takes its name from a rock formation where the wind appears to blow upward. The list highlighted the following locations and activities in Blowing Rock:

The town’s namesake, “Blowing Rock,” is a rock formation known for views of Johns River Gorge and the surrounding forest
Fishing, spelunking and rock climbing opportunities in the area
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, also known locally as “Cone Park,” which has hiking trails and is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Memorial Park on Main Street, where town events and concerts often take place

What to do in Brevard, N.C.

Brevard, also known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” is home to more than 200 waterfalls located across Transylvania County. WorldAtlas highlighted the following locations and activities in Brevard:

Museums, trails, rock climbing and the surrounding area’s many waterfalls
Guided Jeep and hiking tours to view waterfalls throughout Transylvania County
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, a museum displaying artifacts from U.S. military conflicts
Transylvania Heritage Museum, a museum focused on local history and genealogy

What to do in Hot Springs, N.C.

Hot Springs’ name comes from the natural springs that attract visitors from across the state and region. The springs are commonly visited by hikers seeking relief after traveling along the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the town. WorldAtlas highlighted the following activities and events:

Kayaking on the French Broad River
Trailfest, a celebration of hiking typically held in April
French Broad River Festival, a celebration of the French Broad River held each year on the first weekend of May
White-water rafting and ziplining opportunities in the area
Fishing, skiing, sport shooting, golf, disc golf, biking and horseback riding opportunities throughout the area
A range of accommodations including campgrounds, privately owned cabins, apartments, suites and cottages, with options from basic to luxury experiences

WorldAtlas’s best towns in North Carolina

The full list of WorldAtlas’s favorite North Carolina towns of 2026 included:

Banner Elk
Beaufort
Blowing Rock
Brevard
Davidson
Edenton
Hot Springs
Seagrove
Manteo
Wrightsville Beach

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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North Carolina

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

An North Carolina State University professor is back home Monday night after he was trapped in the Middle East as war with Iran broke out.

Rich Spontak was stuck in Qatar while traveling from Bangkok to Spain and was forced to stay in the country for about a week. Several travelers were trapped for days in the Middle East after Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several defense leaders were
killed in joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Spontak, like many travelers, found himself stranded in the Middle East after the initial attacks, which quickly entangled more surrounding countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where seven U.S. service members were killed in retaliatory attacks from Iran.

Spontak said there were times he thought he wouldn’t make it out.

“I would just keep looking out and looking for the missiles,” Spontak said. “Some people that I met along the way were hit by shrapnel from the missles. It was dire.”

Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Azerbaijan also shut the southern sector of its airspace on Thursday after accusing Iran of a drone attack that injured four civilians and damaged an airport building.

Lilia Austin, a Chapel Hill woman who was part of a group of 100 women who went to Israel for a trip the day before Khamenei was killed, also returned home on Sunday after she left Israel through Egypt.

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