Mecklenburg County Visitor Spending Reaches Record $6.5 Billion
Tourism generates more than $430 million in tax revenue, supports 38,380 local jobs and saves residents an estimated $353 per person in taxes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Visitors to Mecklenburg County spent a record $6.47 billion in 2025, bringing outside dollars into the local economy that support jobs, local businesses and the public services that benefit residents. Visitor spending increased 1.5% over 2024 and remained the highest of any county in North Carolina, according to new data released by Visit NC.
The impact reaches well beyond hotels, attractions and events. Visitor spending generated more than $430 million in state and local tax revenue in Mecklenburg County in 2025, helping fund government services while reducing the amount that must be generated from residents and local businesses. Put another way, that visitor-generated tax revenue saved each Mecklenburg County resident an estimated $353 in state and local taxes.
“When visitors spend money in Charlotte, residents benefit,” said Steve Bagwell, chief executive officer of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). “That spending supports local jobs and businesses, generates hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and helps reduce the tax burden on the people who call Mecklenburg County home. That’s why the visitor economy matters, and why continuing to invest in the assets that bring people to Charlotte is an investment in our entire community.”
Mecklenburg County accounted for 17.4% of North Carolina’s $37.2 billion in visitor spending in 2025, reinforcing Charlotte’s position as the state’s leading visitor destination. Those dollars flow through the local economy as travelers stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, shop, attend events and attractions and use transportation services.
Visitor spending supported 38,380 jobs in Mecklenburg County in 2025, more than any other county in North Carolina, and generated $2.19 billion in personal income. Nearly one out of every six tourism jobs in North Carolina is in Mecklenburg County.
“Tourism is economic development in action,” Bagwell said. “Every convention, sporting event, concert and leisure trip brings new dollars into our community. Those dollars support the people who work here, strengthen businesses across our region and generate revenue that benefits the people who live here. As competition for visitors, conventions and major events grows, Charlotte must continue investing in the hospitality infrastructure and destination assets that allow us to compete and win, bringing even more of that economic impact home to our community.”
Regional Visitor Economy Tops $9.25 Billion
The impact extends throughout the Charlotte region. The 11 North Carolina counties within the CRVA’s 15-county regional footprint generated a combined $9.25 billion in visitor spending in 2025, supporting more than 56,500 direct tourism jobs and generating nearly $2.9 billion in personal income.
Visitor spending across those counties also generated approximately $620.6 million in combined state and local tax revenue, demonstrating how the visitor economy supports businesses, jobs and communities well beyond Charlotte’s center city.
The CRVA’s regional footprint includes Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties in North Carolina, along with Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina. The regional spending total does not include the four South Carolina counties because they are not part of the Visit North Carolina study.
What Visitor Spending Means for Mecklenburg County
- $6.47 billion spent by visitors in Mecklenburg County
- $430.4 million in state and local taxes generated by visitor spending
- $353 in estimated state and local tax savings for every resident
- 38,380 local jobs supported by the visitor economy
- $2.19 billion in personal income generated
- No. 1 in North Carolina for visitor spending
North Carolina Tourism Impact
Statewide, visitor spending reached a record $37.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 1.3% from 2024. The travel and tourism industry directly supported 230,997 jobs and generated $1.39 billion in state taxes and $1.33 billion in local taxes.
The findings are from “The Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties,” prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics. The study provides preliminary 2025 estimates of domestic and international traveler expenditures as well as employment, personal income and state and local tax revenues directly generated by visitor spending.
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About the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) works to deliver experiences that uniquely enrich the lives of our visitors and residents. Through leadership in destination development, marketing and venue management expertise, the CRVA leads efforts to maximize the region’s economic potential through visitor spending, creating jobs and opportunities for the community. Brands supported by the CRVA include the Charlotte Convention Center, Spectrum Center, Bojangles Entertainment Complex, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Regional Film Commission, Visit Charlotte, in conjunction with the region’s destination marketing brand and Visitor Info Centers. For more information, visit crva.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Shawn Flynn
Director of Corporate Communications
Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
980.416.2564 | shawn.flynn@crva.com