Domestic and international visitors to and within Pitt County spent $332.47 million in 2025, an increase of 3.9%  from $320.11 million 2024. This data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

“Seeing these numbers reflect the hard work of our Visit Greenville, NC team, our partners, and the hospitality industry as a whole is incredibly rewarding,” stated Rachel Whitten, President & CEO of Visit Greenville, NC. “We are proud to be part of the fabric of Greenville-Pitt County and grateful for the many people and businesses who help make our destination such a special place to experience. Our genuine hospitality, diverse offerings, and unique sense of place are what turn first-time visitors into people who want to return again and again. These results are a testament to the collective work happening across our community every day.” 

2025 Greenville-Pitt County Visitor Spending & Tourism Impact Highlights:

  • 2,132- People directly employed in the travel and tourism industry in Pitt County  

  • $74.91 million- Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Pitt County 

  • $12.40 million- State tax revenue generated in Pitt County totaled through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. 

  • $10.19 million- in local taxes were generated from occupancy, sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

  • $122.52- Saved by residents in local and state taxes due to the Pitt County travel and tourism industry

  • 27th out of North Carolina’s 100 counties in visitor spending

2025 Greenville-Pitt County Visitor Spending Breakdown by Segment:

  • Lodging- $70.63 million

  • Food & Beverage- $122.95 million

  • Recreation- $41.59 million

  • Retail- $24.88 million

  • Transportation- $72.43 million

These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2024,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics. 

Statewide, visitor spending in 2025 rose 1.3 percent to reach a record $37.2 billion. Direct tourism employment increased 0.3% to 230,997. Fifty-nine percent of counties experienced increases in visitor spending from 2024 to 2025 with 14 percent recording flat performance. By county, and by region, dispersion and resilience is the story. 

“As much as we’d love to see growth in each of our 100 counties, the study confirms the vitality of North Carolina’s tourism economy,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “With the approaching two-year milestone of Hurricane Helene, we can draw inspiration from mountain counties that have experienced a turnaround as we continue the effort to see every destination reach higher ground.” Noting the economic uncertainties that have been present since the pandemic, Tuttell encouraged state residents and tourism leaders alike to spread the message about the rewards of North Carolina travel. “Those who take trips to and within North Carolina are elevated by the authenticity of what they experience,” he said. “Our culture, our cuisine and our vast outdoor wonders not only bring pleasure. They also serve as an economic engine that makes our lives better.” 

2025 North Carolina Tourism Facts: 

• Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $37.2 billion in 2025. That sum represents a 1.3 increase over 2024 expenditures. 

• Domestic travelers spent a record $36.1 billion in 2025. Spending was up 1.5% from $35.6 billion in 2024.

• International travelers spent $1.1 billion in 2025, down 2.8% from the previous year.

• Visitors to North Carolina generated more than $4.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2025. The total represents a 2.5% increase from 2024.

• State tax receipts from visitor spending rose 2.0% to nearly $1.4 billion in 2025. 

• Local tax receipts grew 2.6% to more than $1.3 billion. 

• Direct tourism employment in North Carolina increased 0.3% to 230,997. 

• Direct tourism payroll increased 3.5% to $9.8 billion. 

• Visitors spend more than $101 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $7.5 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.8 million in state taxes and $3.7 million in local taxes). 

• Each North Carolina household saved $605 on average in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state. Savings per capita averaged $244.