The tourism industry encompasses a variety of aspects, and according to the North American Industry Classification System’s designations, larger industries are broken down into Accommodation and Food Services, as well as Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation.

Riverbird Research reported that within the Accommodation and Food Services industry across an 18 county area of WNC, the growth rate was slightly down at -1% between 2017 and 2022, with 41,202 jobs across 2,567 payrolled business locations earning an annual average of $25,445 in 2022. During the same five year time period, NC showed a decreased growth rate of -2%.

Accommodation and Food Services in Buncombe County supports 17,529 jobs, followed by Watauga County’s industry of the same supporting 4,333 jobs in 2022. 

Within the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry across an 18 county area of WNC, the overall concentration of jobs was 1.7 times greater than the national average in 2022.

This industry’s 2017-2022 jobs growth rate of 11% was positive compared to the state’s overall -3% change, with a total of 8,201 jobs earning an annual average of $35,342.

Buncombe County’s Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry supported 3,325 jobs, Watauga County with 812 jobs, and closely followed by Avery County with 790 jobs in 2022.