National Tourism Week

Summit 2017May 12, 2017

Monday, May 15, 2017

2016 Economic Impact of Tourism in Buncombe CountyStephanie Pace BrownAsheville Convention & Visitors Bureau

VISITOR SPENDING

Visitors spent $1.9 billion

in 2016

Generating $2.9 billion in total

business sales

VISITOR SPENDING

519.7

430.8 426.5

265.5222.0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Food Retail Lodging Rec Trans

2015

2016

$ million

SHORT TERM RENTALS

$2.1m (0.9%)

$10.7m (3.7%)

$28.3m (8.4%)

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

2014 2015 2016 (est)

JOBS

26,700 jobs are sustained

by visitors

15% of jobs in Buncombe

County

JOBS

14.8%

16.7%

48.0%

51.4%

99.7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

TotalEconomy

Retail

Recreation

Food & bev.

Lodging

DirectIndirect and induced

TAXES

Tourism generated $365 million in tax

revenues, including

$202.5 million in state and local taxes

TAXES

This helps to offset the average

household tax burden by $1,800

per household

$43ROI

Visitor Spending

$3.92

ROI

Sales and OTax

Asheville is:A good place to start a

business

67%

177%

Asheville is:A good place to attend

college

64%

158%

Asheville is:A good place to start a

career

92%

203%

The Faces of Tourism