MOORE COUNTY SURPASSES $750 MILLION
IN VISITOR SPENDING FOR 2022
Moore County Maintains Its Ranking as the Tenth Best Tourism Economy in North Carolina
SOUTHERN PINES, NC (August 21, 2023) – In 2022, Moore County witnessed an unprecedented $750 million in economic impact from visitor spending, an 11 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, and compiled by Tourism Economics in collaboration with U.S. Travel Association.
“Visitors to Moore County spent three quarters of a billion dollars here in 2022 and that’s an historic and amazing achievement for our destination that has no mountains and no beach, but is emerging as one of the hottest leisure destinations in North Carolina,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “While golf is king inside the ‘Home of American Golf’ and we’re about to host a U.S. Open next summer, we are also a unique destination when it comes being more than just golf, with fabulous options off the course as well such as dining, shopping, history, the arts, outdoor recreation and agritourism.”
Tourism impact highlights for 2022:
These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2022,” 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 ranked no worse than eleventh in the state in all of the areas including: Lodging ($192 million, ranked 11th and up 14 percent from 2021); Food and Beverage ($222.9 million, ranked 11th and up five percent from 2021); Recreation ($101.7 million, ranked 10th and up five percent from 2021); Retail ($63.6 million, ranked 10th and up six percent from 2021) and Transportation ($169.2 million, ranked 11th and up 24 percent from 2021).
“These findings are something that everyone in North Carolina can celebrate,” said Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell. “They’re a testament to the resilience of our businesses and our residents, and to the enduring appeal of destinations that include everything a traveler might want. The economic well-being of the state and all its communities rises with the pleasures travelers find in the natural beauty of our public spaces, our culinary traditions and innovation, our remarkable towns and our spirited cities. North Carolina can claim it all.”
Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $33.3 billion in 2022. That sum represents a 15.2 percent increase over 2021 expenditures. The figure falls 14 percent above the record $29.22 billion spent in 2019.
Statewide Highlights:
The overall analysis for the report draws on the following data sources:
The statistical model is based on highly detailed North Carolina data provided by Visit NC as well as data derived from federal and state government sources, nationally known private and non-profit travel organizations, and other travel industry sources.
The findings from the annual report are based on the 2022 calendar year. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB concluded its 2022-23 fiscal year on June 30th with occupancy tax collections exceeding $3.2 million, an increase of six 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 2022, Moore County ranked as the tenth largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $750 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county and saves county residents approximately $521 a year in state and local taxes.
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