Looks like more people are vacationing along our coast this year.
The state division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development says tourism is up. The figures are calculated using hotel/motel occupancy data throughout the state.
The southeast region, which includes New Hanover and Brunswick counties, showed the biggest increase of nine percent in room occupancy rates for June compared to last year. Carteret County saw a six percent increase.
Tourism officials say the boost can be attributed to a recovering economy, more advertising and more vacationers.
Tourism accounts for more than 190,000 jobs and more than 1.3 billion in state and local revenues in North Carolina.
