The Growth of Asheville Tourism As Buncombe County residents know, Asheville is no stranger to attention or tourism. The community, culture, and residents have caused the area to experience an exponential growth over the past several years. With gained notoriety, Asheville has caught the attention of major national publications yet again. This year alone, the city has been featured in National Geographic Traveler, CNN Travel, TripAdvisor, and Forbes Travel Guide. With the draw of tourism, there are many factors that directly affect the community in a positive way. Yet, some Asheville natives are resisting the growth, wishing for Asheville to remain the quaint, artsy town it has always been. Is it possible for this growth to mirror the true nature of the people rather than alter it? Is Asheville changing too quickly? Asheville CVB Report The Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau publishes a yearly report that corroborates the relationship between our booming tourism industry and the impact it has on the county. Tourism is the third-largest employer and a key player in Asheville’s economy. Many jobs in the Buncombe County area are exceptionally dependent on tourism. The unemployment rate rises rise to 15.2% without visitor spending. In fact, visitors support 26,700 county jobs. That is 1-in-7 jobs! The CVB is also reporting that, on average, almost 30,000 people visit Asheville each day, accounting for $5.2 million in spending daily. This rounds-out the total number of yearly visitors to 10.9 million visitors (in 2016). Where is this money going? Well, visitors spent $1.9 billion at local businesses. Many assume it is allocated to the lodging and hotel industry. This is not true. In fact, 24% of the revenue was spent on food and beverage, 21% in retail, and less than 20% in lodging. What is an Occupancy Tax? Regarding Asheville lodging, the topic has become quite controversial over the past several months. Obviously, an influx of tourism increases the need for lodging. However, the Occupancy Tax is what Asheville residents are discussing. This means the County charges a 6% room tax in addition to the 7% sales tax. In total, the County charges 13% for every night someone stays in a Buncombe County hotel. According to the latest data, there were 3.8 million overnight visitors in Asheville. Occupancy Tax History In the 1980s, Asheville hoteliers voted to voluntarily tax themselves, “knowing that when used for the promotion of tourism, these revenues could stimulate increased visitation to the community.” The room tax was initially two percent, steadily increasing until, in 2015, it rose to six percent. Many residents assume the money is allocated back into the County. Repairing roads, building sidewalks to increase walkability, improving traffic flow, and paying the salaries of the hardworking County employees adds an element of practicality to this Occupancy Tax. But what if we said that is not exactly what is happening? The 16 million dollars acquired via Occupancy Tax (in 2016) goes to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, a governmental department that promotes and markets the city. Some cities with this tax, such as Charleston, SC, do receive a portion of the revenue. Is this the way it should be? Should we take the revenue and apply it to marketing the city, increasing tourism and ultimately increasing revenue? Or should we be happy with the national attention the city has gained? Should we apply the money to our fellow citizens? Moving Forward Road roads are crowded, but let us think about how advantageous this development can be! Restaurants, breweries, experimental art shows, coffee shops, and outdoor recreational activities are popping up in the area constantly. Change is certainly not for everyone. But, if we lean into the change, we can grow with the change, not against it! So, what do you think? Is tourism a help or a hindrance to Asheville? Is the growth affecting our quality of life? Let us know what you think about this double-edged sword!
Check out this infographic! It provides tips and tricks on the best ways to make your yard the talk of the cul-de-sac! You may think a yard (or lawn-care in general) is a waste. However, according to the National Association of Landscape Professionals , 90% of Americans expressed that having a well-maintained yard was important to them.
Credit scores can be scary. In fact, they can be downright depressing. But City Real Estate has got your covered! Take a look below where we’ll describe what a credit score is, the factors that make up a score, and even what yours should be! What is a Credit Score? Your credit score is a three-digit number that correlates to how likely you are to repay your debt. The lowest credit score is 300 while the highest score is 850. You should strive for your score 700 or above. What Makes Up a Credit Score? A credit score is calculated by three different bureaus: EquiFax, TransUnion, and Experian. There are many misconceptions about scores that have the potential to scare you. However, once you dissect what factors contribute to your score, you are able to adjust your financial actions to positively impact your score. Factors such as credit use, number of active credit cards, amount of inquiries, and even the length of time you have credit are all vital components of a credit score. Raise Your Score! Because your score will be the main deciding factor for monumental moments (i.e. buying a house, car, etc.), it’s important to try to raise your score to the best of your ability. Perfection is not necessary; it’s nearly impossible! But, slight and gradual improvements can affect a score drastically! Do the following to increase your score: Ensure ALL bills are paid on-time. Pay off your debt. Do not open multiple accounts. Do not close accounts that have a $0 balance; keep them open and do not use them. Pay off accounts that are in collections. Keep in mind that it will stay on your report for seven years. For more tips and tricks to raise your score, click here! Know Your Number! Check out this short video below to learn more about “knowing your number!”
