Orange County NC Website
WHEREAS, travel and tourism to Orange County, brings more than two million annual visitors <br /> to our communities — families and business travelers who frequent our galleries, performing <br /> arts halls, farms and Farmers' Markets; festivals, parades and sporting venues; and <br /> WHEREAS, overall travel to Orange County provides significant economic benefits to our <br /> tourism industry including hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping and retail establishments, <br /> transportation operators, and others; and <br /> WHEREAS, tourism is a growth industry in Orange County generating $156.82 million in <br /> expenditures in 2011 — an increase of 8.8 percent over the previous year's figures — ranking <br /> Orange County 24th in travel impact among North Carolina's 100 counties according to the <br /> U.S. Travel Association; and <br /> WHEREAS, tourism provides high-quality experiences for visitors, strengthens Orange County <br /> communities and develops tourism-related livelihoods; and <br /> WHEREAS, state and local tax revenues from travel to Orange County amounted to $11.64 <br /> million in 2011, representing an $86 tax saving to each County resident; and <br /> WHEREAS, more than 1,650 jobs in Orange County were directly attributable to travel and <br /> tourism in 2011; and <br /> WHEREAS, travel generated a $28.72 million payroll in Orange County in 2011; and <br /> WHEREAS, our area attractions, welcome centers and tours hosted more than 2 million <br /> visitors in 2012; <br /> NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, recognize the efforts of <br /> the Orange County Visitors Bureau and do hereby proclaim May 4-12, 2013 as NATIONAL <br /> TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK throughout Orange County, with the theme TRAVEL EFFECT <br /> which proves that along with its economic benefits, travel and tourism have the power to <br /> improve relationships and to create lasting family memories. Let's discover and appreciate <br /> Orange County's great heritage, which illustrates the importance of tourism to our County. <br /> This the 7th day of May, 2013. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Rich to <br /> approve proclaiming the week of May 4-12, 2013 as National Travel and Tourism Week in <br /> Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> f. National Historic Preservation Month <br /> The Board considered proclaiming May 2013 as National Historic Preservation Month in <br /> Orange County. <br />