By Jeff Hamlin
Assistant News Director

The laboring economy didn’t affect travel spending in Orange County during the recently completed fiscal year. New numbers from the U.S. Travel Association show money spent on travel spending actually increased.

Laurie Paolicelli, communications director with the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, says when occupancy revenue started to dwindle across the country, they made a strategic decision.

Spending by U.S. travelers totaled $152.2 million in Orange County during 2008, a 3.2% increase from 2007. Orange ranks 24th out of North Carolina’s 100 counties in travel expenditures. The higher spending came as a result of increased same-day and overnight travel.

The report finds overall visitation is up across Orange County.

Paolicelli believes the various programs and events from all across the area have played a part in the increase.

State revenue generated in Orange County totaled over $8 million. Just over $3 million in local taxes were generated from travel-related businesses.