Tourism numbers show 'spectacular year' for Craven

Tourism in Craven County was up 8 percent in 2007, the second-highest gain in 15 years.

Final tourism numbers are just in for 2007 from the North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development and the Travel Industry Association of America.

"They show visitor spending in Craven county generated an economic impact of $101.7 million," said Sandy Chamberlin, director of Craven County's Convention and Visitors Center operations. That is up 8 percent over 2006.

Chamberlin said that "2007 was a spectacular year" for tourism in the county.

Travel-related spending produced more than 1,040 jobs in Craven County with a payroll of $20.75 million.

 Statewide, domestic travel spending totaled more than $17 billion and directly supported 198,000 jobs for North Carolina residents, according to the state and the travel association.

Those visiting Craven County generated state and local tax receipts of $7.65 million, Chamberlin said. These tax revenues represent more than $79 in tax savings to each Craven County resident.

What did Craven County do right to bring its numbers up during an overall economic downturn at the same time that gas prices hit record highs?

"Most everything we've done, we've done right," said Chamberlin, who has worked in travel and tourism in Craven for 14 years, including 10 years with the Tourism Development Authority and as director of New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. "There is just more to do."

She said the recent Smith Travel Data Report shows that occupancy rates are up in all hotels and bed-and-breakfast businesses in the county. Rates are up also, but not as significantly as occupancy numbers.

"We wouldn't be seeing other hotels looking to expand or build if we didn't have higher occupancy," Chamberlin said.

There are 567 overnight rooms in Craven now with the Candlewood Suites and Springhill Suites to add more when they open in the fall. Fifty more condominium units on the waterfront are expected to be available for short-term rental this fall.

Chamberlin said a recent tourism report done for the county by Randall Gross shows that now the area needs more attractions for children and younger families.

"It says we need to diversify a bit, staying with our historical draw but diversifying to have other things for families to do," she said.

Promoting the county's paddle trails has been successful, Chamberlin said. "It is amazing how many people are coming in asking for the paddle trail maps and how many paddlers you see out on the waterways."

 She said the consistent year-over-year increases since the downturn following the terrorist attacks in 2001, particularly with stellar years in 2005 and 2007 and plans in place for New Bern's 300th-anniversary celebration and the N.C. History Education Center opening in 2010, add confidence to local tourism's ability to weather hard times.

The Craven County Convention and Visitors Center promotes and greets many different types of visitors. They include people  visiting New Bern and Havelock historic sites and attractions, those visiting the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point and   business travelers, convention attendees, day-trippers, reunion attendees, campers, people going to sporting events  and people on weekend getaways.

For additional information on travel and tourism in Craven County visit www.visitnewbern.com.