Durham got a pat on the back from the State Division of Tourism today…in fact, it got 600,000 of them as Durham will be featured on the cover of the
2011 Travel Guide. That means when a prospective visitor requests information about North Carolina, the very first thing they will see is Durham. The image was taken in
Brightleaf Square, an eclectic and diverse collection of shops and restaurants in Durham. Brightleaf Square is one of Durham’s many unique visitor features.
“To say that we are thrilled is an understatement,” said Shelly Green, President and CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This is a very big deal for Durham. It’s an awesome responsibility to be the “face” of NC as a visitor destination, but we think we’re up to the challenge,” she added.
Being selected for the cover of
The Official 2011 Travel Guide is quite an honor. The state spends approximately $10.5 million annually - $3.5 million in advertising placements alone - to drive visitation to North Carolina. When coupled with the marketing and promotion done by local destination marketing organizations such as DCVB, the results are very positive.
In Durham alone last year, there were 6.3 million visitors who spent $627 million. That resulted in more than $37 million in local tax revenue. Visitor spending fuels more than 10,600 jobs in Durham, and without the taxes it generates, each household in Durham would pay an additional $700 a year in taxes to maintain the current level of government services. Despite a sluggish economy, visitation to Durham grew by more than 250,000 people last year.
Being on the cover of the State’s guide will provide a significant increase in exposure to Durham as a destination. Here are some facts about the guide:
- 600,000 printed copies are produced
- They are available free-of-charge at all nine state Welcome Centers, by calling 1-800-VISIT-NC or online at VisitNC.com
- The guides feature 800 attractions, 4,000 accommodations and travel resources in all 100 counties
- The online version of the guide is the most technologically advanced of any state travel guide. Electronic extras include video tours, barcode scans, and interactive maps
Durham, North Carolina is an open and welcoming community of creative and entrepreneurial people. It is consistently ranked among the greatest places to live, work and visit.
Official Durham Publications and Information
First, Durham was recognized on Travel + Leisure's "Best Places to Travel in 2015," calling out Durham in its print publication out of 53 select destinations in the world to visit.
