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Hadad said North Carolina received $16.5 billion in 2007 from visitor spending. With the industry growing, nearly 200,000 jobs were directly maintained and more than $4 billion went to payroll through the tourism industry.
With North Carolina ranking number six in “Most Visited States” in the United States, Hadad said it was the development of highway corridors, African-American history and Native American history that brought in more people. Waterways and agriculture also ranked high on the list.
All statistics are well and good, the board members were more interested in ways they could bring more of that money to the Roanoke Valley. Hadad and Russell-Smith shared the importance of compiling information about the area, what it has to offer and who are the main groups of people drawn to the lake. They also discussed the importance of partnerships with other organizations that promote tourism.
Hadad said Warren County had experienced $20 million and Halifax County almost $65 million in visitor spending in 2007. He identified some of Lake Gaston’s current assets for tourism as events like “The Crossing,” with the closely associated “Art Plunge,” held in August by O’SAIL, the chamber’s Battle of the BBQ, held May 23 this year, and fishing tournaments held throughout the year. Hadad said expanding on these events and seeing to it they are adequately promoted will bring more visitors.
He also said the chamber’s planned office and Visitor Center would be a primary point of interest in promoting the lake.
One of the immediate needs mentioned was the lack of public access, similar to that provided on Kerr and the Roanoke Rapids lakes. Hadad said it was important be committed once needs are identified and to follow through until those needs are met.
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