Tuesday, May 30, 2006

High gas prices may be a boon for N.C. tourism

Believe it or not, but the outrageous price of gas across the state is not preventing people from traveling. Better yet, it may actually contribute to a rise in Tar Heel State tourism.

The Associated Press reports that the "pump pain" may result in more people vacationing in-state (this summer), as opposed to flying to the Caribbean or the Magic Kingdom.

Connie Nelson with the Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau told the AP that calls from out-of-towners were up 25 percent in April compared to a year ago.

"The Memorial Day weekend may be another indicator," said the AP. "Thousands headed to North Carolina's beaches and hotels, and the Inn at River Oaks in Southport reported turning some people away for a lack of vacancies."

And I can vouch that the fact that people were enjoying the coast. It look 45 minutes to drive the roughly 12 miles from Pine Knoll Shores to Cape Carteret on Monday evening -- a clear indicator that people were not dissuaded from auto traveling.

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