Science on the Sound—the impact of tourism

Important topic. We can grab dinner after if interested.

“Finding Balance: The Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan”
6:00 PM, June 19, 2025
Join us for the June 2025 installment of the “Science on the Sound” Lecture Series at the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus. This monthly, in-person lecture series brings perspectives from all over the state and highlights coastal topics in northeastern North Carolina.

This month, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Executive Director Lee Nettles and Community Engagement Officer Jeff Shwartzenberg will present “Finding Balance: The Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan”. The program will occur at 6 PM on June 19, 2025, at the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus.

In recent years, the economic impact of tourism in Dare County’s Outer Banks has reached record levels, surpassing more than $2 billion in visitor spending in 2023, an all-time high and ranking fourth among North Carolina counties behind only Mecklenburg, Wake, and Buncombe. However, with that economic success also comes impacts that can negatively affect a community. In their presentation, Nettles and Schwartzenberg will highlight recommendations on how the power of tourism can help improve the quality of life for residents, while protecting the delicate natural environment and preserving the unique history and culture of the area.