Local executive: travel...will help us emotionally recover

Andrew Schmidt

A recent email from Andrew Schmidt, president and CEO Greenville-Pitt County Convention & Visitors Bureau discussed National Tourism Week. In it, Schmidt also highlighted the importance of tourism for the Greenville-Pitt area. Schmidt is a member of the School of Hospitality Leadership Advisory Board and has been a part-time instructor for the School.

“It is important for all to understand the role that tourism plays in the economic health of an area, especially in these tough times,” said Dr. Bob O’Halloran, director, School of Hospitality Leadership. “In that regard, we are sharing Andrew’s message.”

Dear Community Partners:

National Travel & Tourism Week across the United States is May 3-9 and a time when we acknowledge the numerous contributions that the tourism industry makes to the health of our national, state and local economies. The most recent numbers from Visit NC show that visitors to Pitt County generated over $260 million, ranking it 20th among North Carolina’s 100 counties for tourism expenditures. Tourism supports over 2,000 jobs in Pitt County and reduces the amount of local taxes residents pay. Although things are currently different this year, travel and tourism are more important than ever.

Just a few short months ago, no one could have imagined the toll that COVID-19 would have across the United States and the world. Our local economies are in distress, record numbers are now unemployed, and the new normal is to stay at home to flatten the curve. Our neighbors and friends in the travel and tourism industry have been hit especially hard by this virus with many restaurants closed and hotels empty. The good news is it appears things are trending in the right direction for restrictions to be gradually lifted. When that time comes, travel and tourism will play a significant role. 

Our local, state and national economic recovery will truly begin when travel restrictions are lifted, and citizens can do what they have been dreaming about for the last few months. The return of travel for meetings, conventions, reunions, sports tournaments and leisure will jump-start our economies, regrow our workforce and bolster our small businesses. Sales tax revenue will regenerate for our local municipalities, and economic development opportunities will resurface. The Greenville-Pitt County Convention & Visitors Bureau stands ready to aggressively market our destination to bring visitors back to aid in our economic recovery process.

The spirit of travel is alive and well. Travel will reconnect us with family, friends and colleagues. It will help us emotionally recover from an event none of us have ever experienced and will offer a new appreciation for the experience of travel that we might have taken for granted before.

Andrew
D. Schmidt, CHME, MPA, President & CEO

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