Tourism & Film

This year the tourism team launched its first ever podcast, First in Fright, telling true stories of the haunted places and spooky experiences travelers can find across North Carolina. The podcast saw near immediate success upon launch, breaking into the top 30 on Spotify’s charts and the top 50 on Apple. 

Through its Outdoor NC initiative, they also launched the Official North Carolina Trail Town Guide celebrating destinations committed to destination stewardship and best practices for preserving natural spaces, with participation from 15 counties and nearly 50 towns in its inaugural year. The guide emphasizes these communities’ efforts to promote stewardship, showcasing their diverse trail networks and providing valuable information for outdoor enthusiasts who seek responsible and accessible adventures.

The team was also awarded the “Cheryl Schutz Award for Destination Marketing and Research Excellence” by the Travel and Tourism Research Association for its “For Real, Visit North Carolina” brand campaign strategy. This national award recognizes the impactful use of research-backed strategies to elevate travel and tourism.

Film productions across the state generated more than $302 million in direct in-state spending in 2024. This year is the second highest year-end total since 2015, when the state’s current film grant program began, and the third highest total since 2000, when the state began offering film incentives to support its film industry.

For 2024, the state welcomed more than 55 productions across the state, with 12 projects receiving awards from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant.