HIGH POINT – There’s no question the drop in attendance at the High Point Market over the last several years has had adverse effects on the tourism industry in High Point.

The real question is how grave are those effects?

A 15 percent drop in the hotel room occupancy tax, which funds the High Point Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, caused the CVB to dip into $50,000 of its reserve funds for the remainder of its fiscal 2009-2010 year. Local businesses that thrive on tourism also say they’ve felt the effects of a tourism decline as well – especially during the furniture market.

“They are obviously our two largest events of the year,” said Juan Ingram, general manager of the Best Western High Point Hotel, about the fall and spring markets. “Just like everyone else in High Point, we rely on that business.”

Ingram said the hotel began to see the decline in attendance at the market, which brought 95,514 registered professionals to the spring 2006 event and 75,329 in the fall of 2009, about four years ago. “I’ve noticed that guests used to stay six or seven days (during market),” he said. “Now, it’s down to a one- or two-day stay.”

The trend for business travelers to stay abroad for fewer days also is an international one, said Mike McCully, associate professor of economics at High Point University.

“During the recession, companies have been cutting back on travel as much as possible,” he said. “Sometimes you can do that sort of business through conference calls. My guess is that it would pick back up when the economy picks back up.”

Restaurants that welcome marketgoers also have noticed a drop in business during the biannual events. In the past 10 years, there has been a noticeable decline,” said Luke Martin, assistant manager at Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery, about business during market. “It does show up in our sales, and it hits home.”

McCully said that’s a natural effect of tourism decline in an area.

“Tourism declines tend to mean less business at restaurants and shopping centers,” he said. “Ideally, if we could diversify our tourism to include some non-conventional conferences or social interest groups, that might help in making up some of the drop.”

phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617