Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
<br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Helen Miller invited the County Commissioners to their annual meeting an May 12th from <br />10-11:00 a.m. at the Central Orange Senior Center. <br />b. National Tourism Week <br />The Board considered a proclamation recognizing the week of May 13 through 21, 2006 <br />as National Tourism Week in Orange County and authorizing the Chair to sign. <br />Patti Griffin, Communications Manager for Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitor's Bureau, <br />thanked the Board for designating this week as National Tourism Week. She said that this <br />week is used to increase awareness of the tremendous economic impact of tourism on Orange <br />County. They also want to encourage citizens to be tourists in their own backyard and to <br />explore all of the great attractions. They have planned a radio promotion with WCHL 1360 AM <br />radio in Chapel Hill, there will be a tourism tribute contest throughout the week, and there will be <br />interviews with the tourism officials. She read the proclamation. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiatis to <br />approve a proclamation recognizing the week of May 13 through 21, 2006 as National Tourism <br />Week in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign. <br />NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK PROCLAMATION <br />May 13-21, 2006 <br />WHEREAS, the travel and tourism industry supports the vital interests of Orange County <br />contributing to our employment, economic prosperity, understanding, and goodwill; and <br />WHEREAS, total domestic tourism in Orange County generated an economic impact of $119.5 <br />million - an increase of 3.7 percent over the previous year's figures -ranking the county 23rd in <br />travel impact among North Carolina's 100 counties in 2004; and <br />WHEREAS, state and local tax revenues from travel to Orange County amounted to $9.55 <br />million in 2004, representing a $79 tax saving to each County resident; and <br />WHEREAS, more than 1,690 jabs in Orange County were directly attributable to travel and <br />tourism in 2004; and <br />WHEREAS, travel generated a $26.2 million payroll in 2004; and <br />WHEREAS, our area attractions, welcome centers and tours hosted more than 1.34 million <br />visitors in 2005; and <br />WHEREAS, people throughout the towns, state, country and world become more aware of the <br />outstanding cultural, historical, and recreational resources available in Orange County; and <br />WHEREAS, given that the travel and tourism industry is vital to our economic stability and <br />growth and contributes substantially to Orange County's cultural and social well being, it is <br />fitting that we recognize the efforts of the Chapel HilUOrange County Visitors Bureau and the <br />importance of travel and tourism; <br />NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, in recognition of the <br />unique significance of the travel and tourism industry in the lives of Orange County residents, do <br />