Thank You for Visiting South Carolina

We are blessed to live in South Carolina and probably take it for granted until we are reminded of how much tourism impacts our economy. I know with I-85 running right through the center of the area I work, and with the natural beauty of Upstate South Carolina all around us, it is not surprising that we have so many visitors.

In fact according to a new study from the South Carolina department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism the impact of travel by US residents in SC continued to rise in 2008. And this is despite the current economic mess. i guess people realize the great bang for the buck you get when vacationing in SC.

Domestic travel spending in South Carolina during 2008 rose 1.7% over the 2007 total to $9.87 billion according to the September 2009 report by the U.S. Travel Association. But more recent data on hospitality tax collections through June 2009 suggest the deepening recession in the first half of this year pushed down visitors to the Upstate.

In 2008 Anderson county brought in $133.4 million from domestic travel, Pickens county got $77.1 million and Oconee county surprisingly brought in only $48.2 million. I am quite surprised the numbers were not higher because of all the wonderful places in this corner of the state. But I have no doubt that anyone visiting South Carolina will find it impossible to wonder about relocating here. And if that sounds like you, then I would love to hear from you!