High Gas Prices Are Good for Local Tourism
By Wil Weldon

Gas prices this summer are roughly twice what they were five years ago, the highest ever for summer travel. In North Carolina, the prices for a gallon of gasoline are hovering just below 3 dollars. But in some states, they’re closer to 4 dollars. That’s causing many North Carolinians to rethink their summer plans.

Camiya Collins, a local motorist, said, “Well, everybody already knows about the gas prices, so most people aren’t really going to take too many trips this summer. A lot of people are just staying down south.”

Such a shift could be positive for the tourism industry in North Carolina, because there’s plenty to do in the Tar Heel state without going too far.

Walton Ferrell, director of public relations for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, confirmed, “In fact, if the indications from our industry colleagues across the state hold true, we’re going to have a very strong summer season and a very good year.”

Collins just returned from New York, where she really felt the burn at the pump.

“Gas nowadays can take you out of house and home, it’s very expensive. I think that it’s really crazy that they raised the gas price so much. And it just makes me not want to go on too many more trips,” Collins said.

There are numerous state parks, national forests, and beaches within three hours of Chapel Hill. And we can be glad we don’t live in Germany, where gas is currently selling for close to seven dollars a gallon.