According to the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, domestic visitors to and within Orange County spent $156.82 million in 2011, which is an increase of 8.8 percent from 2010.
Laurie Paolicelli, executive director of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, said the nearly $157 million spent in the county by visitors is the largest amount spent in any given year in Orange County since the division of tourism started tracking spending 20 years ago.