Last year, the tourism industry counted some significant gains in the Wilmington area, among them announcements about new nonstop destinations from Wilmington International Airport.

In December, low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines announced plans to establish a base at Wilmington International Airport and add three new nonstop destinations, including Nashville, Tennessee (BNA), to its ILM Roster.

In August, discount carrier Breeze Airways announced it plans to begin offering four nonstop routes at ILM in February. 
“New nonstop flights will open potential new visitor markets for Wilmington,” said Kim Hufham, president and CEO of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau.

But while air travel expansions flourished, some industry indicators began to lag. The Cape Fear region covering New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties experienced a slowdown in sales tax and room occupancy tax revenues.

“This ‘leveling-off’ phenomenon is not only a regional trend but also a national trend of returning to more normal numbers following the post-COVID travel surge,” Hufham said. “We anticipate that the leveling off trend will likely continue into 2025 with periods of slower growth as companies adjust remote work policies.”

At the same time, visitors will continue to flock to Wilmington for a variety of reasons in 2025, she said, including the “authentic experiences” of the area’s beaches, riverfront, natural attractions and more.

The local CVB has been working on a tourism master plan for the area that as of press time was expected to be unveiled this month.

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