Tourism's economic impact in the state

There has been a lot of discussion in recent months about economic development in North Carolina. It’s a state priority, as well as one of my own, to attract and support the kinds of industries and businesses that drive our economy and create jobs. One industry that has a huge impact on our economy is tourism.

Tourism is an important industry to our state and especially to the Charlotte region. North Carolina offers a bounty of vacation possibilities, and American families are traveling here to experience firsthand our beautiful scenery, historic attractions and local food and drink. North Carolina ranks as the sixth most-visited state in the country, driving about $19 billion per year to our economy and supporting more than 40,000 of our businesses and nearly 200,000 jobs.

In the Eighth District alone, folks from across the country can hike through the Uwharrie National Forest, visit Tiger World (the state’s largest tourist attraction) or explore the newly opened Sea-Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium at Concord Mills.

But there’s one homegrown industry in my hometown of Concord that’s proving it can really drive tourism and power economic growth while entertaining fans from around the world. More than five decades ago, Charlotte Motor Speedway opened in Concord, and the racing community began to take shape in the Carolinas. Charlotte Motor Speedway quickly claimed the crown as the centerpiece of this growing industry.

It’s no surprise that I’m a huge fan and supporter of the racing community. While I’m appreciative of the entertainment both the racing community and the speedway provide residents and tourists, I’m incredibly grateful for the impact the industry has on our local economy and the high-skilled jobs it offers. Overall, motorsports is a $6 billion industry in North Carolina and supports some 20,000 jobs.

Every race weekend, thousands of folks visit the track and stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants and shop in our stores. Take a look at this year’s Coca-Cola 600, which celebrated its 55th running on May 25, and you’ll see how Charlotte Motor Speedway has become an economic powerhouse for our region. The estimated economic impact from the track in May is $230 million and 4,200 jobs.

I had a chance to speak at this year’s Coca-Cola 600 and saw how Charlotte Motor Speedway puts our region on the world stage by generating new interest in visiting our state. This applies not only to fans but also to companies whose first exposure to our region is through racing. An estimated audience of 14 million people in the U.S. watched the TV broadcasts of all May race events at the speedway — this represents 14 million Americans who could visit our state in the future.

Over the years, Charlotte Motor Speedway has created some of the most exciting moments in racing, and a Coca-Cola 600 victory has long been one of the crown jewels for NASCAR drivers. But more importantly, the speedway annually hosts the largest military-recognition initiative on Memorial Day Weekend. It began in the 1960s by hosting veterans of World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Over the 55 years of the celebration, millions of race fans have joined together to celebrate our military heroes and honor their service of protecting and preserving our country’s freedom.

In a proclamation, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr joined me to recognize the Memorial Day celebration. This year’s celebration of our troops was an event to remember. Through ticketing programs, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted more than 6,000 members of the military and their families, and troops from our state’s military bases participated in the pre-race ceremonies.

Once again, Charlotte Motor Speedway brought our region to the forefront of the sporting world, while revving the engines for economic impact for years ahead. It’s a homegrown industry that has expanded, thrived and brought international recognition for the region. If the past 55 years are any indication, the next half-century at Charlotte Motor Speedway will bring tremendous benefits to our state.

Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08) Op-Ed, Charlotte Business Journal