Visitors spent more in all NC counties

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - State tourism officials say each of North Carolina's 100 counties experienced increased visitor spending in 2011.

The Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development reported Tuesday that of the 100, seven counties had double-digit increases.

In addition, Mecklenburg, Wake and Guilford counties had more than $1 billion in visitor spending in 2011 while Dare, Buncombe, Forsyth and Durham all had more than half a billion in spending.

Agency figures show that domestic visitors to and within North Carolina spent a record $18 billion in 2011, an increase of 8 percent from 2010. For the first time, state tax receipts as a result of visitor spending approached $1 billion last year.

The visitor spending figures come from an annual study commissioned by the division and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association.