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Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, appeared on WIZS’ Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.
Allen discussed the recent announcement that visitor spending in Granville County for 2019 represented an increase of 4.5 percent over the previous year.
According to the annual study by Visit North Carolina, a part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, visitor spending in Granville totaled $54.79 million last year, compared to the $52.44 million reported in 2018.
“I’m very pleased about last year and the things we were able to do to bring in visitors,” said Allen. “I go back to the same basic things that attract people to our area, including our proximity to the Triangle and our laid-back, family atmosphere.”
According to a recent press release, visitor spending in Granville County has seen a steady increase over the past decade – from $37 million reported in 2010 to approximately $55 million in 2019.
Allen attributes the increase in visitor spending to the local economic growth seen in the opening of new restaurants and retail establishments, the expansion of outdoor trail and park opportunities and the County’s new ‘Uniquely Carolina’ marketing campaign.
Acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting restrictions will affect tourism spending for the foreseeable future, Allen said recent reports of increased visitors at the NC coast and mountains left her feeling hopeful about what she called the “filtering” of tourism dollars.
“The beaches and the mountains are our guinea pigs at this point,” Allen explained. “If people feel safe enough to go to those types of areas, then I think it will trickle down to people being more apt to go back to their rural areas and even some urban areas. I’m looking at it as a positive thing because at least people are getting out.”
To learn more, visit www.visitgranvillenc.com or contact Allen by phone at (919) 693-6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.