What is the Economic Impact of Tourism in the Greater Charleston, SC Area? – Let’s look at the numbers

May 30, 2024 Charleston Daily 0 Lowcountry,

Every day, we see tourists come to the area by car, plane and boat. They shop, dine, lounge, explore, adventure and provide a vital contribution to our economy. Whether it is the fine dining, nationally recognized festivals, outdoor adventures, romantic getaways, friendship vacation or an exploration into our rich history, Charleston has become a national and international destination.

We wanted to provide a consumable look, by the number at the incredible economic impact tourism has on the Greater Charleston, South Carolina economy. Get ready to be blown away!

Estimated total economic impact (billions) – 2023 – $13.10B vs 2019 – $9.67B (35.5% increase).
More people working in the hospitality and tourism industry in the Greater Charleston area than ever before: 53.7K employed.
Average total expenditure per adult per trip: 2023 – $1,048 vs 2019 – $878 (19.4% increase). Breakdown: $503 (accommodations), $234 (dining/food), $63 (local transportation), $100 (tours/attractions), $103 (retail shopping), $45 (other shopping/expenses).
Charleston International Airport had a record-setting year with 6.15M passengers coming in and out of the airport.
Percentage of all sales in the region that were attributable to tourism: 24.7% (up from 23.8% the previous year).
Hotel Average Occupancy Rate: 70.7% with a record 4.9M hotel rooms sold in 2023. The national average is 63.8%.
Average Hotel Rate: $185/night up from $155/night in 2019.
Top origin states (Non-SC) for visitors: North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, New Jersey.
Top origin cities (Non-SC) – Charlotte, New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Miami, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa.
Number of airlines now flying in/out of Charleston International Airport: 13.

These are some remarkable numbers and our economic future is only looking brighter.

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Source: Explore Charleston and the College of Charleston Office of Tourism

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Charleston Daily

Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.