New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority approves $4.9 million budget, will focus on out-of-state marketing

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority approved its $4.9 million operation budget for the new fiscal year.

The approved budget will cover the Authority’s out-of-state marketing to bring more people to the area and improve the Authority’s riverfront booth.

The Authority’s marketing partnership with ILM will also continue.

Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau president Kim Hufham said this is the third year out-of-state marketing is part of the budget.

“We’re really hoping, especially on our out-of-state marketing initiative that we’re going to start seeing that needle move where people are going to be more aware of us,” Hufham said. “Course, we know that North Carolina is our number 1 feeder market so we do a lot of our marketing annually within North Carolina. But this gives us an opportunity to branch out and expand those marketing efforts.”

And next spring, the Tourism Authority will work with the Town of Carolina Beach to improve its visitor center.