Gaston is 18 th in travel impact among North Carolina's 100 counties. Jobs 1520 jobs in Gaston County are directly attributable to travel and tourism. The I-85 south center welcomed nearly 800,000 visitors to North Carolina in 1995 and has assisted 15 million since it opened in 1972. Visitors A 1994 survey found historic sites, beaches, scenic areas, museums, golf and fishing most popular among visitors to North Carolina. Origins Top states of origin for North Carolina domestic visitors are Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Ohio, and Georgia.
International visitors come mainly from Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and France.
Hotel occupancy for the Carolinas economic development region is among the most stable, usually exceeding the state average.