While tourism may not be welcomed by some residents of a community, it is part of the lifeblood of Ashe County and West Jefferson in particular. The dollars from tourism that come into the county help provide services and jobs that benefit both residents and visitors, and this in turn fosters a sense of community pride.

North Carolina is celebrating the 25th annual National Tourism Week through May 18, and kicks off the legislative opening session today with an extravaganza of activities in Raleigh. West Jefferson leaders are on hand to join in the festivities.

“This is an increasingly significant event to bolster the awareness among state policy makers of the importance of tourism to North Carolina’s economy and as a growth industry creating new jobs,” states the North Carolina Travel Industry Association about the Tourism Day events.

Booths from participants all across the state, including West Jefferson, will be set up from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the four quadrants of the legislative building, and just outside the building will be displays and activities from Nextel and Visit Charlotte. There will be an exciting NASCAR display with a tire changing challenge between various House and Senate members. The day concludes with a VIP reception for legislators and leaders in tourism and business at the North Carolina Museum of History.

Tourism is the second largest industry in North Carolina with revenues recognized as major factors in the state’s economic development. Tourism in North Carolina generates more than $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue, providing over 190,000 jobs with a payroll of $4 billion. Visitor spending has increased more than 50 percent in the past 10 years, and is up nearly 10 percent in Ashe County since 2006.

While county figures are not broken down by municipality, figures for Ashe are indicative of the level of activity in West Jefferson, Ashe County’s commercial center with a nationally recognized historic downtown. Information provided by the West Jefferson Community Partnership note 2006 county figures of $38.17 million in tourism expenditures with $2.19 in local and $1.99 in state tax receipts, an employment of about 3,700 in tourism related business with an annual payroll that exceeded $6 million.

“Additionally, figures attest to the fact that recent growth in tourism nationally and in North Carolina would suggest that there are outstanding opportunities for the increased development of tourism in West Jefferson,” the Partnership states. “It is important that we enhance our tourism marketing by creating a unified marketing plan that encompasses the goals and aspirations of the various partner organizations that exist within the Town of West Jefferson.”

As a benefit to West Jefferson’s revitalization and tourism efforts, the town was selected last year by the Department of Commerce for the Small Towns Main Street Program that works to revitalize small town business districts. This program will benefit all of the merchants in West Jefferson. The first Tuesday of each month West Jefferson residents, business owners and public officials meet to discuss town improvement options and implementation. There are plans (and some monies) to do fa