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NCGrowth Completes Roanoke River Partners Ecotourism Impact and Opportunity Study

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:

  • Employment: The Paddle Trail supports approximately 7 jobs in the re­gion over the course of each year.
  • Income: On an annual basis the Trail contributes $175,680 of personal income to workers in the region.
  • Economic Growth: Each year the Trail contributes $553,270 to the growth of the regional economy.
  • Multiplier Effect: For every dollar spent as a result of the Paddle Trail $1.64 is generated in the regional economy. This result is comparable to other rural ecotourism attractions that have been studied across the coun­try.

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.

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