Tourism plays an important role in Beaufort County’s economy, and local organizations, civic clubs, business owners and businesses have supporting roles in making tourism a key element of that economy.

One of those civic clubs — Washington (noon) Rotary — and one of those business owners — Inner Banks Outfitters proprietor Liane Harsh — were honored Thursday for their roles in supporting and promoting tourism in the county by the Washington Tourism Development Authority. Harsh received the David Gossett Tourism Champion Award. Pamela Anderson, president of Washington (noon) Rotary, accepted the Washington Tourism Partner Award on behalf of the club.

“This award goes to groups or organizations that do an outstanding job of representing Washington and attracting new people to our area. This year, the award is presented to Washington (noon) Rotary for their efforts with Smoke on the Water,” said Lynn Wingate, Washington’s tourism-development director, in presenting the award.

The awards were presented at the North Carolina Estuarium in conjunction with the unveiling of the top-five entries in the 2017 North Carolina Waterfowl Conservation Stamp competition.

Washington (noon) Rotary’s annual Smoke on the Water festival draws thousands of people to Washington’s waterfront for the two-day festival. Festival-goers flock to Stewart Parkway do avail themselves of barbecue prepared by award-winning whole-hog cookers, chili served by multiple winners of the chili contest and other tasty treats. They also visit local shops, restaurants and tourist sites such as the North Carolina Estuarium, the Port of Washington Museum and the city’s historic district.

“The David Gossett Tourism Champion Award is given to an individual who represents our community very well. Regardless of where they go, when you leave you’ve had an encounter with this person. You know where they’re from, and you’re thinking to yourself, ‘Gosh, I really think I need to look into the place.’ This year, it is my pleasure to present the award to Liane Harsh,” Wingate said.

Inner Banks Outfitters supports the tourism-related economy by selling and renting kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and other equipment needed to explore the area’s waterways, trails and off-the-beaten-path paths. The tourism-friendly business also offers paddling tours — including wine-and-cheese paddles and full-moon paddles — for area residents and visitors alike. It also offers kayak lessons, group kayaking and bicycling tours and stand-up paddleboard sales and rentals.

When Harsh participates in cycling events elsewhere, she tells people about Washington and encourages them to visit the city and area, Wingate noted.

“Liane and Inner Banks Outfitters have put a lot of people on the water. When you come to Washington, you come to Beaufort County, that’s, obviously, something that people want to do. She’s given people an opportunity by providing kayak rentals, stand-up paddle-board rentals — just getting people who were looking for that active lifestyle while they were on vacation to be able to enjoy that daily life that we get to enjoy in being able to get on the river,” Wingate said about Harsh’s role in promoting area tourism efforts. “That’s certainly something that’s been very attractive as people are looking for this area in the promotion of paddle trails, promotion of bicycle routes and events like Cycle North Carolina. Liane has played a critical role in those types of events and attracting that audience.”

About her efforts to promote the area, Harsh said, “I think I’m promoting my business. As I’m promoting my business, I’m promoting tourism in the county, in Washington itself. It’s incidental; it just kind of happens. It easy to promote my business in this town because it’s such a great place. It’s such an easy place to get people to come to.”

Smoke on the Water is one of Washington’s signature festivals because of Rotary’s dedication to it, Wingate noted.

“Rotary has done such a phenomenal job in pulling together not only their members but other organizations to contribute to one of the largest events in Washington during the year. With the addition of new events and partnerships, you look at the community organizations that are able to raise money because of Rotary and Smoke on the Water. It’s just a great event that brings the community together, but also benefits the greater community as well,” Wingate said.

Anderson said she and her fellow Rotarians understand the importance of tourism to the local economy. “As Rotarians, a lot of us are business people, so we know the value of the (tourism) economy and how much that means to those who are in business, who aren’t in business and the whole city in general,” Anderson said. Smoke on the Water helps bring tourists and cooking competitors to Washington, with those people spending money locally, she noted.

Harsh, surprised by her award, talked about receiving the award in its second year of existence. “It’s funny to me. Because I love this town such much, why wouldn’t I represent it and try to bring people here because I think it’s such a great place. It means a lot to me in the sense that … our tourism people are doing such a great job, and I support them. It’s nice to be part of the team,” Harsh said.

“Awesome,” said Anderson about Washington (noon) Rotary being honored. “We did not expect it, totally taken aback. I’m going to get to share this with everybody on the team that works so hard to make it happen. We do it for the community. We give all the money back to the community. We just love this town, and that’s why we all band together and do Smoke on the Water.”

 

TOURISM BY THE NUMBERS: 

Domestic visitor spending in Beaufort County increased from $75.68 million in fiscal year 2014-2015 to $77.71 million in fiscal year 2015-2016, which ended June 30, a 2.68 percent increase, according to a study. For fiscal year 2015-2016, Beaufort County ranked 58^th out of the state’s 100 counties in percentage of increase in expenditures by tourists. From fiscal year 2013 to 2014, the county saw a 6.6 percent increase in visitor spending.

In fiscal year 2015-2016, about 460 jobs in Beaufort County were directly attributable to travel and tourism, according to the data. Travel generated a $10.34 million payroll in fiscal year 2015-2016, up from a $9.6 million payroll in the previous fiscal year.

During fiscal year 2015-2016, state and local sales-tax revenues generated by travel and tourism in Beaufort County amounted to $8.52 million, which represents a $178.83 tax savings to each county resident, according to the study. Local and state taxes generated by travel in Beaufort County came to $8.1 million in the previous fiscal year, representing a tax savings of $170.09 for each county resident, according to the 2014-2015 data.

Beaufort County’s largest tourism spending increase from one year to the next year came in 2005, when the economic impact of domestic tourism jumped 11.97 percent over that impact in 2004.

The tourism-related data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association. The study uses sales and tax revenue data, employment figures and other industry and economic data to determine the overall impact of visitor spending in North Carolina.