The Great Mountain Reset: Why Asheville’s Rental "Dip" is a Regional Bloom
By Marge | Published 2026-04-17T15:06:53.441Z
Business
If you caught the recent headlines reporting a staggering 45% drop in Buncombe County’s vacation rental occupancy, you might think our regional tourism engine has hit a brick wall. But for those of us watching the data across the rest of Western North Carolina, the view from the porch looks quite different.
WNC -- April 17, 2026: If you caught the recent headlines reporting a staggering 45% drop in Buncombe County’s vacation rental occupancy, you might think our regional tourism engine has hit a brick wall. But for those of us watching the data across the rest of Western North Carolina, the view from the porch looks quite different.While Buncombe is experiencing a "market correction," our surrounding counties—from Haywood to Watauga—are proving that the mountain travel industry isn't shrinking; it'