Warren County Shows Largest Spending Growth in NC for 2020

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Warren County was the number one county in North Carolina for visitor spending in 2020. With an increase of 32%, domestic and international visitors spent a total of $49.6 million in Warren County alone, according to an annual study by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC).

Home to Lake Gaston, a 20,000-acre lake straddling the North Carolina and Virginia border, Warren County is the ideal place for avid water sport and fishing enthusiasts. From the county’s beautiful rolling hills and pristine lakes to its historical landmarks, visitors come from across the globe to enjoy self-guided walking and driving tours, extreme sports, horseback riding and more.

“We are fortunate that Warren County’s travel and tourism industry has been able to demonstrate such resilience during a difficult year,” said Charla Duncan, director of community & economic development for Warren County. “Individually, many of our businesses have certainly experienced similar challenges as other small businesses across America during this pandemic. The strength in Warren County, particularly during 2020, is that our natural and cultural assets are a stable, safe, and desirable resource for visitors.”

The breakdown of the county’s visitors’ spending include: 

  • $12 million from Lodging 
  • $15.5 million from Food and Beverage 
  • $6.7 million from Recreation 
  • $10.6 million from Transportation 
  • $4.8 million from Retail 

The tourism industry in Warren County directly employs 231 people, with a payroll of $10.1 million, which is an increase directly related to the rise in visitor spending over the last year. 

“It is great to see this positive news, as we adjust to the long-term impact of the pandemic,” said Vincent Jones, Warren County manager. “We hope that this new energy we are seeing as people discover and rediscover the charm of Warren County is sustained going forward.”

To learn more about Warren County and explore its many incredible places to eat, stay, and play, visit https://www.warrencounty.com.