33 Million Visitors Boost Charlotte Economy as City Gains National Recognition

Charlotte drew 33 million visitors last year. That's one million more than the year before.

The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority tracked these numbers, which show the city has climbed the ranks as a travel spot.

Over half came to see family and friends. The holidays pulled in crowds, with 54% of those 33 million arriving to spend time with loved ones.

Laura White works as Chief Brand & Strategy Officer at Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. She said national magazines have started paying attention to what the city offers.

"We are so excited to see travel and leisure recognize us as one of the Holiday Headquarters of the South," said White, according to WBTV. "It's really because we have such great activities with the light show at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daniel Stowe. All of the activities in Uptown, just so much to see and do for visitors."

Food has pulled travelers in. Top Chef filmed here, and Michelin gave stars to local restaurants, putting the Queen City on the culinary map.

"Culinary has become a huge impact piece with the filming of Top Chef, and Michelin-rated restaurants," White said. "It's really drawing travelers. It's the number one reason they are seeking out weekend getaways to Charlotte."

This wave of tourists has pumped money into local businesses and created thousands of jobs across the metro area.

At SouthPark, visitors account for $12 of every $100 spent. They dine out and browse stores at Concord Mills and South Park Mall, keeping cash registers ringing.

One in nine workers here depends on tourism. Their paychecks come from hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

Steve Courtney and Kaelen Boyd both have relatives arriving soon. Courtney's guests are driving up from Atlanta while Boyd's family is making the trip from Columbia.

"I'm blown away by that number," Courtney said. "That is an unbelievable number of people visiting."

The authority will keep running ads from Washington, D.C., down to Tampa, Florida, hoping to maintain momentum and attract even more travelers to Charlotte.