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Tourism

Tourism is vital for the success of the region’s economy. As reflected in the dashboard, the region’s expenditures by visitors had increased until 2019, then declined in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beaufort County, as one of the top tourism destinations in the state, had received the greatest amount of visitor spending and had the largest number of tourism-generated jobs. Colleton County, nationally recognized for the ACE Basin eco-tourism destination and several I-95 interchanges, ranks second for tourism expenditures and payrolls.

Data Notes
Definition	Tourism Employment and Payroll: Estimated shares to travel related industries that provide goods and services to travelers. Tourism Expenditures: The amount paid for the acquisition or consumption of goods and services, as well as valuables, for personal use or to give away, for and during tourism trips. Estimates of tourism expenditures include South Carolina residents’ travel-related spending in the state and travel spending in South Carolina by inbound visitors from other states.
Data Source	S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (SCPRT)
Last Updated	April 2024