Charlotte Region Posts $1.2 Billion Tourism Revenue in Fiscal 2025

The Charlotte region pulled in $1.2 billion from tourism spending during fiscal 2025, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority announced. That's up 9% from $1.1 billion the year before.

Visitors numbered 33 million. Their spending kept more than 38,000 people working in Mecklenburg County.

Leisure trips and activities generated the biggest chunk at $640.2 million. Sports brought in $333.5 million, and conventions plus meetings added $102.9 million.

The Charlotte Convention Center accounted for $87.6 million of convention totals. It helped book close to 120,000 hotel room nights throughout the area.

Over 202,000 people visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which generated $68.3 million in spending. More than half came from outside the region.

The Bojangles Entertainment Complex saw 688,000 attendees and created $60.8 million in spending. One of every three visitors drove more than 100 miles to get there.

Marketing pushes booked 473,000 room nights. The authority says these efforts sparked 2.4 million trips, which brought in over $370.1 million and added $20 million to tax coffers.

Film and TV production injected $58.3 million in direct spending. Major shows shot here included season six of Love is Blind, season 23 of Top Chef, and World Chase Tag on ESPN.

Feature films shot locally included Roofman and "God's Not Dead: In God We Trust." Netflix's NASCAR: Full Speed and HGTV's House Hunters also filmed in the area.

Big sporting events helped drive numbers up. The Atlantic Coast Conference football championship game, the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium, and the Lovin' Life Music Fest in uptown all contributed.

The North Carolina General Assembly created the CRVA through a city charter amendment. The authority runs city-owned event spaces and markets the region to travelers.