Damage from Hurricane Helene was minimal at the local level, but still harmed tourism spending in Graham County.
Data compiled and released last fall by VisitNC revealed an 8.1% local drop in visitor spending for 2024, down to $51.5 million. The figure is down $5 million from 2023 and is the second-biggest drop in western North Carolina, according to the data; Buncombe County felt the largest amount of lost revenue, with a reduction of $2.6 billion (10.8%).
Breaking down the data from Graham County's deficit, food and beverage made up the largest amount of local spending ($16.77 million). Lodging was close behind, at $13.28 million.
A boost from Great Smoky Mountains National Park could not make up the deficit. The National Park Service released its own data last fall, citing a total of $2 billion was spent by an estimated 12.2 million visitors in local gateways to the park in 2024. The largest portion of the spending was lodging ($974 million, or 47.71%). Restaurants followed at a distant second, at $346 million (16.96%).
Graham County is home to a slice of the park in its northeast portion, which borders Fontana Dam.
Among its report, the park service said the money spent helped support 20,300 jobs; $2.9 billion in cumulative economic output around the gateway regions; and $1 billion in labor income.
Statewide, North Carolina enjoyed a record income from visitor spending in 2024, at $36.7 billion (a 3.1% increase from 2023). Of the 100 counties in the state, 71 experienced revenue growth from tourism spending.
Data for 2025 will be released later this year.