N.C. more popular among overseas tourists

RALEIGH — North Carolina ranked 15th in the nation in attracting overseas visitors last year, up from 18th in 2005, according to data released today.

North Carolina attracted 358,000 tourists from overseas last year, which was a record, according to the state Department of Commerce.

The prior high was 305,000 overseas tourists in 2004. A total of 282,000 overseas tourists visited the state in 2005, the last year that overseas tourism data was compiled for North Carolina, said Commerce Department spokesman Wit Tuttell.

The weak U.S. dollar — which enables overseas tourists to buy more with their money — has helped attract additional tourists from overseas, said Tuttell.

North Carolina was the third-most popular destination among overseas tourists in the Southeast, according to the Commerce Department.

“More and more people realize what a great state North Carolina is,” Gov. Mike Easley said in a prepared statement. “The survey results also show the success that has come from the hard work our tourism offices are doing to promote the state as a travel destination.”

The data was compiled by the International Trade Administration and the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries in the U.S. Department of Commerce, based on in-flight surveys given to international passengers flying into the United States. Passengers flying in from Canada and Mexico aren’t included in the data.

Overseas visitors spend more money and stay longer than domestic visitors. Overseas visitors to North Carolina stay 12 days and spend an average of $2,568 per trip, while domestic visitors stay 3.3 days and spend $549, according to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.