RAEFORD — Domestic and international visitors to and within Hoke County spent $14.54 million in 2022, an increase of 7.4% from 2021, according to new data.
The spending report comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
Statewide, North Carolina set a record for visitor spending in 2022. As previously reported in May, travel statewide rose 15.2%, an increase following a 2021 turnaround from the pandemic’s 2020 peak, which brought a devastating drop of 32% in visitor spending.
“As we celebrate a record $33.3 billion in visitor spending statewide, we’re pleased that counties that rely on business travel, as well as leisure trips, are doing well,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders.
The travel and tourism industry employs around 100 people in Hoke County, according to the report.
The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics in collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association.
“Tourism is more than an essential industry for the state,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “It’s an economic development force in all 100 of our counties, the places where travelers experience our scenic beauty and adventure, our cuisine and unique culture, our history and the dynamic forces that create our enduring appeal. We look forward to continued success in welcoming people to experience places they won’t find anywhere else.”
