Research & Reports
Did You Know…
- $2 billion in the cash registers of local businesses: People who visit Buncombe County spend $2 billion annually at local businesses, many of those being small, independent operations that depend on tourism to survive and thrive – and on the sales and marketing programs of Buncombe County TDA to attract those customers.
- $3.1 billion total economic impact: Local businesses purchase goods and services from more local businesses, for a total economic impact of $3.1 billion.
- $199 million in taxes generated: People visiting Buncombe County generate $199 million in state and local taxes. That includes 31% of sales tax revenue and 19% of property tax revenue.
- 27,000 jobs: People visiting Buncombe County support 18,000 jobs at tourism-related businesses and 27,000 jobs in total – that’s 15% of the employment in Buncombe County.
Learn More!
- The Community Benefits of Tourism Fact Sheet
- Tourism & the BCTDA: Fast Facts & FAQs
- Tourism Builds Community: By The Numbers
- Buncombe County TDA Information Booklet
Performance Index
Each month the Explore Asheville CVB generates a statistical report of our output for the previous month. This tool provides a snapshot of the local tourism economy month-to-month. Click here to access these reports.
Economic Impact Information
In 2017, Buncombe County attracted 11.1 million visitors, including 3.9 million overnight guests. Visitors spent $2 billion, generating $3.1 billion in economic impact and supporting 27,000 jobs, as reported by esteemed research firm, Tourism Economics. Tourism is the third largest employer in the area, and a significant driver of the Asheville economy.
Fact Sheets
- Buncombe County TDA Information Booklet (2020)
- Tourism & the BCTDA: Fast Facts & FAQs (2020)
- Overview & History of the BCTDA, with details on the Occupancy Tax (2020)
- NC Guidelines for Occupancy Tax Legislation
- Community Benefits of Tourism (2020)
- Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) (2020)
- Festivals & Cultural Events Support (2020)
- BCTDA & Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission (2020)
- Tourism Builds Community Infographic (2020)
Sales & Marketing Plans
Media Plans
BCTDA Annual Reports
- 2018-2019
- 2017-2018
- 2016-2017
- 2015-2016
- 2014-2015
- 2013-2014
- 2012-2013
- 2011-2012
- 2010-2011
- 2009-2010
- 2008-2009
- 2007-2008
- 2006-2007
- 2005-2006
- 2004-2005
- 2003-2004
- 2002-2003
Research & Data
- 2020 COVID-19 Traveler Sentiment Study (fielded March 11-13)
- 2016 Advertising Effectiveness & ROI Executive Summary
- 2016 Asheville Visitor Profile
- Portrait of an American Traveler November 2016
- 2014 Asheville Visitor Profile Report
- Buncombe County Visitor Profile 2012-2014
- New Lodging Properties in the Asheville Area
Glossary
- ADR (Average Daily Rate): Room revenue divided by rooms sold, displayed as the average rental rate for a single room.
- Contract Rooms: Contract rooms are occupied at rates stipulated by contracts – such as for airline crews and permanent guests. Room allotments that do not require guaranteed use or payment should not be classified as contract.
- Demand (rooms sold): The number of rooms sold or rented (excludes complimentary rooms).
- Group Rooms: Group rooms are sold simultaneously in blocks of a minimum of ten rooms or more (e.g. group tours, domestic and international groups, association, convention and corporate groups).
- Occupancy: Rooms sold divided by rooms available multiplied by 100. Occupancy is always expressed as a percentage of rooms occupied.
- Percent Change: Amount of growth – up, flat, or down – this period versus same period last year (month or year-to-date). Calculated as ((TY – LY) / LY) * 100.
- Revenue (Room Revenue): Total room revenue generated from the sale or rental of rooms.
- RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room): Room revenue divided by rooms available.
- Supply (Rooms Available): The number of rooms times the number of days in the period.
- Transient Rooms: Transient rooms Include rooms occupied by those with reservations at rack, corporate, corporate negotiated, package, government, or foreign traveler rates.