SC

Record SC Tourism Spending?

Travelers spent a record $16.5 billion in South Carolina in 2011, according to the U.S. Travel Association. That beats a 2008 record of $15 billion. Hmmmm … and where are the these numbers, again? Because we searched all over the organization’s website and couldn’t find them anywhere. Oh well, wherever they…

Travelers spent a record $16.5 billion in South Carolina in 2011, according to the U.S. Travel Association. That beats a 2008 record of $15 billion.

Hmmmm … and where are the these numbers, again? Because we searched all over the organization’s website and couldn’t find them anywhere.

Oh well, wherever they are … they would appear to contradict data released previously by the S.C. Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) – a state agency which is slated to receive $79.2 million in the coming FY 2013-14 state budget (a 12.1 percent increase over its current funding level).

Wait … hold up … marketing tourism is a core function of government? Apparently so …

Anyway, in 2007 South Carolina’s annual occupancy rate was 58.8 percent and its revenue per available room (or “RevPAR, the key tourism metric) was $51.31, according to SCPRT. Then the recession hit – which resulted in brutal years in 2009 and 2010.

In 2011 the occupancy rate had climbed to 54.8 percent and RevPAR was $47.91 – but both figures trailed behind the national tourism “rebound.”

They also failed to hit SCPRT director Duane Parrish’s promise of “double digit growth.”

Last year RevPAR finally climbed back above the $50.00 mark – at $50.99 – a 6.8 percent increase from the prior year.

Again that’s good … but it’s not double-digit growth.

According to the latest data for 2013 (January through March), occupancy rates are up 1.2 percent from the previous year while RevPAR is up 4.4 percent. By comparison, occupancy rates nationally are up 1.8 percent, while  RevPAR is up by 6.4 percent.

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32 comments

Smirks May 6, 2013 at 2:56 pm

Must be from all the great publicity we get via Myrtle Manor.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic May 6, 2013 at 3:15 pm Reply
9" May 7, 2013 at 10:56 pm

maybe you can

Reply
Smirks May 6, 2013 at 2:56 pm

Must be from all the great publicity we get via Myrtle Manor.

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic May 6, 2013 at 3:15 pm Reply
9" May 7, 2013 at 10:56 pm

maybe you can

Reply
Buz Martin May 6, 2013 at 2:57 pm

I don’t trust any of these figures, but I do like the ones in the pic up top. Yes indeed, hot chicks in bikinis. Decade after decade, the sight of ’em never gets old.

Reply
CorruptionInColumbia May 6, 2013 at 3:11 pm

You got that right!!!!!!

Reply
GrandTango May 6, 2013 at 3:25 pm

Perv Alert!!!! Perv Alert!!!…..
One of the Myrtle Manor cast members has been caught molesting a 15-year-old.
I’m guessing the little girls scream and yell: “Stranger-Danger-Perv Alert” when they see Buz creepin’ on the beach..That’s likely the only reason he’s not in jail, on a Pervert charge, too.

Reply
shifty henry May 6, 2013 at 4:36 pm

Not really —- they know they can outrun him…….

Reply
T-Cuz May 6, 2013 at 7:18 pm

Ball Bag

Reply
Frank Pytel May 6, 2013 at 4:36 pm

I’ll bet you were around to see the Dept of Morality close weren’t you? I’ll also bet you were sad that day.

Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.

Frank Pytel

Reply
T-Cuz May 6, 2013 at 7:17 pm

ball bag

Reply
GrandTango May 6, 2013 at 8:23 pm

You want to let some 60 yr old perv bird dog your daughter…have at it. But MB is an illigit hotspot..and I bet you’ll be beggin a handout when Buz knocks up your child.

Reply
Boz Martin May 6, 2013 at 2:57 pm

I don’t trust any of these figures, but I do like the ones in the pic up top. Yes indeed, hot chicks in bikinis. Decade after decade, the sight of ’em never gets old.

Reply
CorruptionInColumbia May 6, 2013 at 3:11 pm

You got that right!!!!!!

Reply
bob May 6, 2013 at 3:38 pm

Buz, what about the coastal kickback investigation and Hilton’s D.U.I. fatality. Any progress or justice?

Reply
Buz Martin May 6, 2013 at 5:45 pm

Coastal Kickback: No indication of any pending action at this time but “WHERE’S SHEP?” is still a question often asked. If all were clear he would be once again in the thick of the moving and the shaking, but apparently he is still basically hiding out, even from his own clients. It’s not over ’til it’s over.

Drunken murderer restauranteur Michael Hilton: ASK HARPOOTLIAN!

Reply
bob May 7, 2013 at 7:21 am

Sorry Buz, you just seem to have the 411.

Reply
bob May 6, 2013 at 3:38 pm

Buz, what about the coastal kickback investigation and Hilton’s D.U.I. fatality. Any progress or justice?

Reply
Boz Martin May 6, 2013 at 5:45 pm

Coastal Kickback: No indication of any pending action at this time but “WHERE’S SHEP?” is still a question often asked. If all were clear he would be once again in the thick of the moving and the shaking, but apparently he is still basically hiding out, even from his own clients. It’s not over ’til it’s over.

Drunken murderer restauranteur Michael Hilton: ASK HARPOOTLIAN!

Reply
bob May 7, 2013 at 7:21 am

Sorry Buz, you just seem to have the 411.

Reply
nitrat May 6, 2013 at 4:42 pm

Hey, Sic, you worked for Mark Sanford and we know how he cooked numbers…who’s helping you with yours and why should we trust you?

Reply
nitrat May 6, 2013 at 4:42 pm

Hey, Sic, you worked for Mark Sanford and we know how he cooked numbers…who’s helping you with yours and why should we trust you?

Reply
Creeper May 6, 2013 at 10:34 pm

I can’t wait for computers with touchscreen scratch and sniff for use in web browsing.

Reply
shifty henry May 6, 2013 at 11:11 pm

HAH! —- Look what I have on my Windows 8……

Reply
Creeper May 6, 2013 at 10:34 pm

I can’t wait for computers with touchscreen scratch and sniff for use in web browsing.

Reply
shifty henry May 6, 2013 at 11:11 pm

HAH! —- Look what I have on my Windows 8……

Reply

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