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a major part
of economy
Figures released last week by the Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism show that tourism in 2005 generated more than $39 million to the Columbus County economy, a 3.4 percent increase over 2004.
Jennie Long, executive director of the Columbus County Tourism Bureau, said that the formulas for calculating the data are complicated. As a result, it’s hard to put a finger directly on where those dollars are spent, but suffice it to say, much of that income is derived from people traveling through Columbus County on their way to the beaches. Beach travelers literally spend millions here on gas, hotels and food.
The Department of Commerce notes that 300 jobs are related to tourism, amounting to a more than $5.3 million payroll. State and local sales taxes brought in $3.4 million in revenue to the county.
This much is clear, however. Towns like Whiteville, Chadbourn and Tabor City are jam packed on Saturdays (turnover day), and the money made in the summer months very likely is a make-or-break proposition for many businesses. DOT recently estimated that traffic counts on U.S. 74 average 130,000 more cars a month in July than in January.
The next obvious step to increase travel and tourism income is to provide local attractions that will be their own tourism destinations. Attractions like the Jellystone RV park near Tabor City and the horse arena at Boys and Girls Homes, plus public attractions like Lake Waccamaw, Lumber River State Park, the county’s festivals and the Museum of Forestry, are key and proven destinations.
Yet, marketing the county to outsiders continues to take a back seat in funding. The Tourism Bureau and the county’s chambers of commerce do what they can with very limited dollars.
We encourage private sources, the county, the Economic Development Commission and the state to find more and better ways to market Columbus County.
Marketing is expensive, and Columbus is only doing a drop in the bucket at present. The county’s proximity to the beaches is something that should be heavily capitalized on. Many motorists are simply passing through. The question is: how will we get more to stay?
If we don’t make ourselves look good, then who will?