Market Trends
Tourism and Travel in Columbia Area is a $1 Billion Dollar a Year Industry
By Ric Luber, CEO, Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism
When you think of tourism, your mind may automatically picture coastal destinations, flip flops and beach towels. However, are you aware that tourism and travel in the Columbia area is a $1 billion dollar a year industry that positively impacts residents? Leisure and business travel are crucial to our local economy in the Columbia metropolitan area. It boosts the economy without costing you a dime!
For South Carolina, tourism is big business. The latest figures from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism show South Carolina tourism brought in more than $18 billion in 2008. That is up from $16 billion four years ago. In the Columbia metropolitan area, which consists of the City of Columbia, Lexington and Richland counties, tourism is a $1 billion industry. According to the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism (MASCT), the local tourism authority, the industry employs approximately 12,000 people and saves each tax paying household more than $700 annually.
Those are some impressive numbers and despite the recent recession, Columbia has been able to sustain itself while other destinations nationwide weren't as lucky. With economic recovery in sight and the growth and development around the area, Columbia has the potential to grow those numbers.
The U.S. Travel Association is predicting an increase in both leisure and business travel. As the leisure travel season quickly approaches, consumers will continue to travel but they'll be a bit more conscious in choosing a vacation destination. Travelers will make frugal decisions and opt for quick getaways in a neighboring state. While leisure travel will recover quickly, business travel will also increase by 2.5% in 2010.
What does all this mean to you? It's simple really. The more visitors we can bring to our region, the more our economy grows. People become employed as hotel general managers, restaurant waiters and everything in between. Not only that, but the more a traveler pumps their money into local establishments, the more you save in taxes. It's a win, win situation for everyone involved!
As we finish up the first quarter of 2010, our organization will continue to work with our partners to market and push Columbia, SC: Famously Hot to targeted meeting planners and leisure travelers. The goal is to continue to enhance the quality of life by bringing in more visitor dollars. Our partners and the support of the community are vital components to making Columbia successful. We couldn't do our job effectively without the resources that we have in our backyard and we are very fortunate that more than 75 partners are on board and have incorporated the new brand and Columbia, SC Famously Hot marketing campaign in their individual marketing efforts.
As a resident of the metropolitan area you are our biggest ambassador. Often times you are the first point of contact for a visitor. Promoting a positive experience by sharing ideas on places to see and do helps communicate our brand in the most effective way. We've even made it easy for you by providing a couple of lists for quick referencing. Take the time to be a tourist in your own backyard and try some of the ideas we've listed. After all, you are our best representative and we thank you for it.
5 Must-See Attractions
1. Riverbanks Zoo
2. South Carolina State Museum
3. Columbia Museum of Art
4. Edventure Children's Museum
5. South Carolina State House
25 See and Do Ideas
1. Visit Congaree National Park, South Carolina's only national park
2. Experience Lake Murray in style on the Taste of Lake Murray
3. Learn the history of Lexington County at the Lexington County Museum
4. Tour the Mann-Simons cottage supported by the Historic Columbia Foundation
5. Walk or run the Three Rivers Greenway's Riverwalk
6. Hike a trail at Saluda Shoals Park
7. See Indian artifacts at the Cayce Historical Museum
8. Shop for unique items along Devine Street
9. Visit one of the many art galleries in the Vista
10. Kayak the Congaree River
11. See an independent film at the Nickelodeon, South Carolina's only non-profit art house film theater
12. Tour the Waverly Historic Neighborhood courtesy the Historic Columbia Foundation
13. Explore the history of the military in South Carolina at the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum, Columbia's oldest museum.
14. Shop the Columbia Regional Visitors Center for locally made merchandise
15. Tour the Kensington Mansion in Eastover, SC
16. Learn the art of glass blowing at One Eared Cow glass
17. Listen to a live jazz band on Thursdays at the Hunter Gatherer, a local Columbia brewery
18. Enjoy a wine tasting event at Cellar on Greene in Five Points
19. Have a great meal at any one of the region's locally-owned restaurants
20. Sightsee in Lexington County by visiting The Shoppes at Flight Deck and the Main Street district.
21. Find treasures in our antique corridor that runs from the Vista to West Vista
22. Channel your inner thespian and see a play at one of our local theaters - Trustus, Towne, Longstreet or Workshop.
23. Visit the Law Enforcement Hall of Fame
24. See puppets come alive at the Marionette Theater
25. Have a picnic at the Horseshoe on USC's campus then enjoy the exhibitions at the McKissick Museum.
10 Notable Conventions in Columbia, SC
1. North American Society for Sport Management
2. Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ Int'l Annual Convocation
3. The Great Gathering (CME, AME, AME Zion Churches)
4. CME Women's Missionary Council
5. National Beta Club Senior Beta Convention
6. United Methodist Church Youth Retreat
7. Southern College Health Association
8. United Cheerleading Federation War of the Stars
9. National Hydrogen Association
10. North American Benthological Society
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