Despite the destruction of Hurricane Helene, Burke County had the second-highest increase in visitor spending in the state last year.
Domestic and international visitors spent $154.26 million in Burke County in 2024, an increase of 11.9% from 2023. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by VisitNC, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, according to information from the Burke County Tourism Development Authority. The only county in the state that beat Burke County in visitor spending was Cleveland County, which saw a growth of 14%, said Ed Phillips, CEO of the Burke County Tourism Development Authority.
Phillips said visitors to the Burke County Visitor Center were up 71% from Jan. 1 to Sept. 27, 2024, when Hurricane Helene hit the area.
He said the