Your Guide to Dare County Tourism
Did You Know ...
Visitor spending in Dare County surpassed $2.1 billion in 2024 for only the second time, ranking #4 among North Carolina’s 100 counties, trailing only Mecklenburg, Wake and Buncombe.
- Annual Dare County tourism generates more than $147.1 million ($68.2 State, $78.9 Local) in state and local tax revenue from visitor spending.
- Because tourism generates this revenue, each Dare County resident enjoys tax relief of $3,860.46 annually, which ranks #1 among all counties in North Carolina.
- Tourism provides 12,260 jobs in Dare County, accounting for nearly half of all jobs (45.5%) and marking the second highest employment level since 2019 (13,880). These leisure and hospitality jobs include positions at establishments in accommodations, arts and entertainment, food service, recreation, retail and transportation.
- A 6% Dare County Occupancy tax (collected when visitors rent short-term lodging) is shared between Dare County and the six municipalities, the Beach Nourishment Fund, and the Dare County Tourism Board.
- Dare County and the municipalities receive half (3% of the 6% Occupancy tax) to be used “only for tourist-related purposes, including construction and maintenance of public facilities and buildings, garbage, refuse, and solid waste collection and disposal, police protection, and emergency services.”
- Of the Occupancy tax net proceeds received by Dare County and the towns, Dare receives 32% and the municipalities split the remaining 68%.
- Beach Nourishment receives 2% of the Occupancy tax net proceeds.
- The Tourism Board receives the remaining 1% of Occupancy tax, as well as 1% of a Prepared Food and Beverage tax. By law, 75% of these dollars are to be used to promote tourism and for the cost of administration. The remaining 25% are for programs or services needed due to the impact of tourism.
- Occupancy tax dollars reduce your ad valorem property taxes significantly regardless of where you own property in Dare County.
- During the 2 022- 23 fiscal year, Occupancy tax contributed the following to Dare County, the municipalities, Beach Nourishment and the Dare County Tourism Board:
| Beach Nourishment | $16,325,384 |
| Dare County | $7,833,051 |
| Municipalities: | |
| Town of Nags Head | $4,673,981 |
| Town of Kill Devil Hills | $4,527,503 |
| Town of Duck | $2,265,416 |
| Town of Kitty Hawk | $2,245,442 |
| Town of Southern Shores | $1,894,227 |
| Town of Manteo | $1,038,663 |
| Dare County Tourism Board | $8,162,692 |