NCGrowth, in partnership with Roanoke River Partners, conducted a study on the impacts and opportunities of ecotourism in the Roanoke River region. A survey of Roanoke River Paddle Trail users was conducted to determine the average expenditures of a river user. This data was used to build a model to estimate the ripple effect of this spending on the five county Roanoke River region.
This analysis found that the Paddle Trail is a unique asset that can be leveraged to boost the economic growth of the five county Roanoke River region (inclusive of Bertie, Halifax, Martin, Northampton, and Washington Counties). The current annual impacts of the trail include:
These economic impacts are driven by two primary activities: the operational spending of the Roanoke River Partners organization and spending by Trail users on groceries, equipment, lodging and other needs. RRP’s efforts can boost the economic impact of the Paddle Trail by increasing visitor spending while they are in the region – either through marketing efforts to grow the annual number of overnight visits or through efforts to grow complementary attractions such as guided tours and unique dining experiences that enhance visitors’ experiences. Encouraging visitors to shop at locally-owned businesses, versus chain retailers, will also increase the impact of their spending as this reduces leakage out of the local economy.