Why Tourism Matters

                                          

Tourism is a vital part of Elizabeth City’s success. It brings new money into our community — supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of life for all of us who live here. Thanks to visitor spending, residents in Pasquotank County save about $151 per person in state and local taxes. 

Tourism in Pasquotank County is designed to pay for itself. When visitors stay overnight — whether it’s in a hotel, bed-and-breakfast, or a short-term rental like an Airbnb — they pay an occupancy tax on top of their nightly room rate.

Here’s how it works in Pasquotank County:

• Visitors pay a 6% occupancy tax when they stay overnight.

• That 6% is split up: 1.5 % goes directly to Pasquotank County and 1.5% to Elizabeth City to use for tourism-related projects and improvements. The other 3% goes to the Elizabeth City–Pasquotank County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) — which funds Visit Elizabeth City.

Visit Elizabeth City uses its share to promote the area, support marketing of local events, and drive more tourism to our community.

In short: visitors fund our tourism efforts — not local taxpayers. Visitors help us grow, create jobs, and improve quality of life for everyone who lives here.

Over the past year, Visit Elizabeth City has provided funding to a wide range of events and projects, including:

• Juneteenth Celebration

• North Carolina Potato Festival

• River City Skippers

• River City Rowing Club

• Coast Guard Marathon

• Bassmaster Elite Tournament

• Pool Street Park Project

• Water Street Transformation Project

• ECSU Community Connections

• Cycle NC Coastal Ride

But it’s not just about providing direct marketing funds, Visit Elizabeth City invests more marketing dollars to promote these events, getting the word out through social media, paid campaigns, and public relations efforts. We help get these events in front of as many eyes as possible, so they can succeed and draw more people to town.

According to the latest (2023) Pasquotank County data from Visit North Carolina:

Total Visitor Spending 2023: $90.21 million

Visitor Spending by Category:

      • Lodging: $18.44 million

      • Food & Beverage: $32.71 million

      • Recreation: $10.72 million

      • Retail: $8.09 million

      • Transportation: $20.25 million

Employment Supported by Tourism: 535 jobs

State & Local Tax Revenue Generated:

      • State Taxes: $19.1 million

      • Local Taxes: $3.6 million

      • Total Tax Savings per Resident: $150.98

These figures highlight the significant economic impact of tourism in Pasquotank County and underscore the importance of continued investment in tourism-related initiatives.

Moving tourism forward isn’t always easy. It takes constant work to promote our community, compete with bigger destinations, and keep Elizabeth City growing in the right direction. And we know — with any kind of growth, there can sometimes be an impact on the community. Whether it’s busier streets, more demand on local services, road closures and changes to the pace of life, progress can feel uncomfortable at times. But the goal has always been to grow in a way that honors what makes Elizabeth City special — while creating new opportunities for our residents, businesses, and future generations.

Tourism isn’t just about visitors. It’s about building a stronger, more vibrant Elizabeth City — for all of us who call it home.

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