Travelers to Wake County decline for first time since 2009 recession

A report released Tuesday by Visit Raleigh indicates how much money Wake County lost in 2020, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wake County welcomed 29% fewer visitors in 2020 than it did in 2019, the report shows, and the first yearly decline since the Great Recession in 2009. The 13 million visitors spent $1.7 billion, a 43% decrease from 2019.

Visitors spend the most money on food and beverage, accounting for $517 million, followed by hotels and lodging, which garnered more than $413 million in 2020. Although fewer people traveled, those who did were with more people and stayed longer than in previous years, the report found.

The funds local and state governments receive from travel and tourism likely save Wake County households more than $470 in taxes each year, Visit Raleigh said, indicating the value of visitors.

Despite the decline in spending, it is important to recognize that visitors still helped the tourism industry, which created jobs for 17,433 people in Wake County in 2020.

“While the declines were significant, the spending that did occur in Wake County was noteworthy,” said Dennis Edwards, President and CEO of Visit Raleigh. “We are encouraged about recovery of the tourism sector and its future as well as the numbers continue to improve in 2021.”