TDA’s annual report shows how visitor spending gives tax relief to county

ASHEBORO — Visitors to Randolph County spent $195 million in 2025, resulting in $92.16 of tax relief to local residents.

That’s the economic impact of travel and tourism to the county, according to the 2025 Annual Report of the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority. TDA Executive Director Amber Scarlett provided the report to the Board of Directors at its Oct. 21 meeting.

The total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Randolph County last year was $45.21 million for the 1,167 direct tourism jobs.

The figures in the report were provided in part by an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina by Tourism Economics.

The Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the TDA. The budget for last year was $1.68 million. It’s generated mostly by the room occupancy tax that visitors pay for hotel rooms, bread and breakfasts, etc. 

The occupancy tax is currently set at 5 percent.

That $1.68 million also included $220,000 from the NC Department of Transportation for the operation of the two Visitor Centers on I-73/74 near Seagrove. So, the $1.68 million helped attract $195 million in visitor spending.

In her report, Scarlett said, “This year’s report celebrates our collective commitment to creating exceptional and unforgettable experiences for every visitor to Randolph County, the Heart of North Carolina. Against a backdrop of a record-setting $37.2 billion tourism economy across the state in 2025, our region continues to serve as a vital driver of local economic strength and job creation.”

Attendance at the 32 attractions in the county that the TDA surveyed was 1,644,740 for 2025. 

Visitors from North Carolina topped the list, followed by visitors from Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Illinois, Virginia, Michigan, Georgia and New York. The top in-state visitors were from the Piedmont Triangle, Piedmont Triad and Charlotte Metro.

The top visitor requests received by the Heart of NC Visitors Bureau were the Heart of NC Travel Guide, Seagrove Pottery, North Carolina Zoo, Deep River State Trail, NC Aviation Museum, Downtown Asheboro, Linbrook Heritage Estate, Petty Family Attractions, Victory Junction and Millstone Creek Orchards & Cider House.

The Randolph County TDA was formed by special legislation of the NC General Assembly in 1997. Its mission “is to unify and lead the county in developing the Heart of North Carolina as a family-friendly, affordable, and strategically located destination serving the leisure and business travel, group tour, meeting, and sports and recreational tournament markets.”