Tourism Development

The Tourism Development Manager continued to work with rural communities to foster visitation to the lesser-known areas of the state. In addition, working with these communities to foster its culture and heritage through various genres of traditional and heritage music and heritage trails and programs across the state. Small towns are an important part of the North Carolina landscape.

Visit North Carolina is actively involved in ongoing programming either independently or in conjunction with partners such as the NC Rural Center, the Department of Commerce's Division of Community Assistance, the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, NC Arts Council, NC Folklife Institute and other entities to foster revitalization that will make the communities more attractive to residents and visitors. To do so, Visit NC's Tourism Development team has:

Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC)

The Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) was developed along with the Industry Relations Manager to bring Visit NC's program managers to local communities to share and discuss the nuts and bolts of partnering effectively with Visit NC.

TRAC sessions through 2019

  1. New Bern
  2. Lexington
  3. Smithfield
  4. Bryson City
  5. Morganton
  6. Jacksonville
  7. Edenton
  8. Greensboro
  9. Outer Banks "Mini TRAC"
  10. Fayetteville
  11. Wilmington
  12. Danbury
  13. Pinehurst
  14. Yadkinville
  15. Warrenton
  16. Greenville
  17. Blowing Rock
  18. Banner Elk/Beech Mountain
  19. Dunn
  20. Troy
  21. Marion
  22. Creedmoor
  23. Mount Airy
  24. Washington
  25. Mars Hill
  26. Maggie Valley
  27. Reidsville
  28. Sanford
  29. Roxboro
  30. Tarboro

2019

  1. Edenton/Chowan Co.
  2. Burlington/Alamance Co.
  3. Goldsboro/Wayne Co.
  4. Belmont/Gaston Co.

Consumer Show Attendance

Visit NC led groups of in-state partners at three Consumers Shows in 2019:

  1. Travel & Adventure Show DC - Partners (Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Greenville-Pitt County CVB, High Point CVB, Johnston County Visitors Bureau, Cabarrus CVB, Yadkin Visitors Center, Asheboro CVB, Lexington TDA, Boone and Watauga County TDA)
  2. NY Times Travel Show - Partners (Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Greenville-Pitt County CVB, New Bern-Craven County CVC, Rockingham County Economic Development and Tourism, Pender County Tourism, Ocracoke Business Association, Johnston County Visitors Bureau, Island Express Ferry)
  3. Travel & Adventure Show Philadelphia - Partners (Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, New Bern-Craven County CVC, High Point CVB, Boone and Watauga County TDA, Yadkin County TDA, Greenville-Pitt County CVB, Johnston County Visitors Bureau, Crystal Coast TDA)

Community Partnerships and Heritage Development

Visit NC also continued to be actively engaged in the development of outdoor recreational/ecotourism/agritourism/heritage opportunities in the regions across the state. Farms, waterways, hiking and biking trails, greenways and open spaces are important features in a community that improve and promote quality of life and link people with their natural and cultural heritage. These partnerships include assistance in researching resources for communities, working with communities interested in Tourism Development Authority development, marketing initiatives, heritage trails development and product development plans. Created by congressional legislation, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is supported through a partnership with Visit NC to assist in coordinating planning for the 25 counties in the designated region. Visit NC continued to assist in the implementation of the initiatives outlined in each county's heritage plan, and had an active role in assisting the BRNHA in developing, facilitating and guiding communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway for themes such as agriculture, arts and culture, traditional music, history/heritage and natural resources. In addition, Visit NC continued work on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina with the BRNHA and the NC Arts Council to roll out a new book and map guide, as well as collaborated closely with the communities participating in the NC STEP Program through the NC Rural Center and the NC Main Street Program.

North Carolina Civil War Trails

The Civil War Trails Program is marketed in five states - Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina, with more than 1,000 interpretive markers. Visit NC continued to partner with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources to promote the NC Civil War Trails program. Marketing Universals were developed by Civil War Trails Inc. and all five state partners to display the program as the "best" way to experience Civil War history, using social media, print and online advertising.

Cultural Heritage Trails Development

Certified Retirement Community Program

The North Carolina Department of Commerce operates a community development program for communities that are positioning for retiree attraction as an economic and community development strategy. The N.C. General Assembly, during the 2008 short session, recognized the inherent panoply of quality living the state offers and established the N.C. Certified Retirement Community Program (S.L. 2008-188) as a vehicle to designate communities offering this unprecedented quality of living sought after by the mature community.

To gain certification, a local government must submit an application for consideration. Initial evaluation of the community and technical assistance is provided by the Department of Commerce's Community Development Division. The designation has a five-year life, after which communities will need to consider recertification at the sunset of the five-year period. Once a community has completed the certification process, Visit NC will help market and promote the community.

Visit NC continued to attend conferences on trends, research and developing retirement communities, and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Retirement Communities (AARC).

Visit NC continued to promote certified communities and areas of North Carolina during the Ideal Living Regional Expos in Long Island, NY; Chicago, IL; Bridgewater, NJ; Greenwich, CT and Washington, D.C. Metro Area.

Results:

Visit North Carolina's certified communities include:

  1. Lumberton (pilot program)
  2. Asheboro
  3. Marion
  4. Sanford
  5. Pittsboro
  6. Mt. Airy
  7. Eden
  8. Edenton
  9. Tarboro
  10. Winterville
  11. New Bern
  12. Lenoir
  13. Laurinburg
  14. Reidsville
  15. Jamestown/High Point
  16. Washington
  17. Roanoke Rapids
  18. Elizabeth City

2019 CRC additions

  1. Johnston Co.
  2. Salisbury

AmericanaFest

Visit NC along with NC DNCR were key sponsors at AmericanaFest in Nashville to celebrate NC's Year of Music. Education and artist showcases featuring North Carolina music and artists.