Randolph County Tourism Boon or Bust?

by Nancy Hunter, former member of Asheboro City Council

Alcohol proponents continually cite the need for alcohol sales to boost tourism.  To listen to the rhetoric you would think tourism in Asheboro and Randolph County is in decline.  However, in researching newspaper articles in the Courier Tribune you will find reports indicating that tourism is growing.  For example, an article published in July 2006 entitled County’s Tourism Marketing Efforts Pay Off reveals that in 2005 visitors spent $91.73 million dollars in Randolph reflecting a 3.5% increase in tourism expenditures over 2004.  In an article published in the Courier Tribune in August 2007 entitled Randolph Tourism Increases

statistics reveal that in 2006 visitors spent $98.69 million, up 7.6%, another increase.

As one can see tourism in Randolph County is prospering.  The N.C. Zoo was the third most visited attraction in the state in 2007, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.  The Zoo had more than 752,000 visitors ranking it behind the Biltmore Estate at 1.1 million visitors and Discovery Place in Charlotte which drew 792,508 visitors.  This past Memorial Day the N.C. Zoo set a new three-day holiday weekend record of 32, 724 visitors over the Memorial Day weekend.  The previous record was 25,806.  This new high for Memorial Day weekend reflects a 27% increase.  We note that the two top attractions draw from the already large population base present in Asheville and Charlotte that is not present in Asheboro.

In addition, our Tourism Development Authority has received recognition for their efforts and success.    Recently the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority’s director was awarded a top honor at the Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina’s (DMANC) annual conference in Asheville.  Tammy O’Kelley was presented with the tourism industry’s Rising Star Award on June 2, 2008. The award is given annually to a member who has worked as director of a bureau for a total of three years or less and has made an immediate significant impact to destination marketing in North Carolina.

Question:  Is Randolph County’s tourism industry a boon or a bust? You decide.

Sources:  Courier Tribune 7-25-06, Courier Tribune 8-11-07,  Charlotte Business Journal 2-19-08 , Courier Tribune 5-29-08, Tourism Development Authority website.