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Each year, over 60 million visitors flock to North Carolina and contribute more than $14 billion annually to the state’s economy. These numbers continue to rise as North Carolina moves up the list of Top 10 most visited U.S. states. Tourism is also a vital industry for North Carolina in many other ways: it generates close to $748 million in state tax dollars a year, and over $450 million in local tax revenues; directly supports nearly 200,000 jobs and close to $4 billion in wages; and has brought new life to areas left without a livelihood by the demise of other industries.
Nationwide and beyond, tourism in one of the largest industries in the world and still growing as people seek to satisfy their curiosity about new places, new cultures and new activities. But tourism has exploded in more than just popularity. It has also evolved into a diverse industry with many specialty sectors, including natural resources tourism, adventure tourism, sports tourism, historical tourism and much more.
PRTM supports the tourism industry by offering degrees which include instruction in all aspects of tourism and commercial recreation, from product development to marketing, facility management, finance and more. It also works with other colleges to provide a background in specialty areas such as sports and natural resources, and it conducts practical and economic research into tourism, examining its impact and potential applications. PRTM also sponsors on-going extension and outreach programs to educate professionals, keep standards high and encourage the sharing of new ideas within the industry.
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