RALEIGH -- A study released this month shows Mecklenburg County led the state's counties in tourism spending in 2011. The North Carolina Division of Tourism says the state reported a record for tourism spending last year.

Mecklenburg County had more than $4.1 billion in domestic travelers expenditures, which was more than double any other county's tourism spending.

The county's expenditures grew 10.5 percent last year and officials say it should continue to increase this year with 35,000 visitors expected during the first week of September for the Democratic National Convention.