Asheville's $3 Billion Tourism Revenue Battered to a Pulp. When will it recover, if ever?

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According to the Buncombe Country Tourism Development Authority, Asheville and the surrounding area get $2.97 billion a year in tourism activity. That is 20% of the local GDP. A huge percentage is at risk, at least for the next several months. And that means the local economy will be crippled after Hurricane Milton hammered the area. The analysis, additionally, shows that tourism supports 29,000 people, which is one of seven in the region.

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In essence, Asheville’s economy has been almost totally destroyed, and there is no ready source of money to bolster it. That means it has something in common with other areas in the nation affected by violent weather.

Florida Tourism
Tourism is critical to the economy in Lee County, Fla., home to Fort Myers. One in five workers lives off tourism, which translates into 48,000 jobs. Hurricane Milton will undercut the industry, and two years ago, Hurricane Ian caused even worse damage, a situation grim enough that many residents may leave, according to The Washington Post.

The effects of weather on tourism extend well beyond the Southeast. According to The World Economic Forum, climate has hurt the industry, particularly in North America, Africa and Europe. The study’s title, released in 2023, was “Rising global temperatures are already affecting the tourism industry — here’s how.”