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State Tourism News Although much of North Carolina's economy may be struggling, the state's leisure and hospitality sector is on the rebound. Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the Tar Heel State has added 26,600 jobs in that sector during the past five years. The leisure and hospitality sector encompasses a broad range of industries, including restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, theaters, museums and professional sports teams. Only New York and Texas have done better. Thirty -six states and the District of Columbia have registered gains in such employment during the past five years, while 14 states have suffered declines. To find out more, visit www.biziournals.com/charlotte/stories/201 0/10/1 1/dailyl 2.html Assistant Sec. Lynn Minges is part of a Travel South USA delegation promoting. travel to North Carolina and the Southeast from France and Italy. In France, the delegation has scheduled sales calls and presentations with major airlines that offer service into the Southeast — Delta /Air France and US Airways — the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Dept. of Commerce Commercial Service, top tour operators who feature U.S. product and with 15 consumer media representatives. In Italy, Travel South is exhibiting at TTG Incontri, the largest B -to -B trade fair in Italy, and has secured appointments with 35 top tour operators who feature U.S. product and with top travel media. Expected attendance for the fair is more than 35,000, with 2400 exhibitors from 101 countries. (North Carolina has daily non -stop air service via US Airways into Charlotte from both Paris and Rome.) In preparation for the mission, Travel South USA has developed a multi -media presentation and a Travel South USA Tour Planner — including promotional content on each of the 12 member states - translated into both French and Italian. This planner includes information and maps about each state in the region as well as suggested state -wide and multi -state itineraries. It has also compiled a Travel South USA customized press kit, featuring travel product from the states participating in the mission — North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. France has long been an important overseas visitor market for North Carolina. Annually, almost 16,000 visitors from France travel to North Carolina, spending nearly $8 million dollars in the economy ($500 on average per visitor). France ranks #5 in visitation volume by overseas visitors to the state, following the U.K., Germany, Japan and India. Visitors from France represent a 3.0 percent market share of overseas visitors to North Carolina and represent 2.6 percent of overseas visitor spending in the state. Annually, almost 10,000 visitors from Italy travel to North Carolina, spending over $5.5 million dollars in the economy ($557 on average per visitor). Italy ranks #9 in total spending and visitation volume by overseas visitors to North Carolina. Visitors from Italy represent a 1.8 percent market share of overseas visitors to North Carolina and represent 1.8 percent of all overseas visitor spending in the state. For more information on overseas visitors to North Carolina, visit www.nccommerce.com /NR /rdonlyres /1 D04ABE2-D752-49E4-BFF8- 8847C96FAE6B/ 0/ 2008 Intern ationalVisitationto _ Nort C aro Iina. Pdf 1 -2 Page 251