For Our Partners

South Carolina lags the nation in terms of average wages and wage growth while the unemployment rate in the state exceeds the national average. In 2003, the South Carolina Competitiveness Initiative was launched to address this situation. In addition to an assessment of the state overall, the South Carolina Competitiveness Initiative looked at four clusters that have a significant economic impact on the state’s economy, one of which was tourism.

While each cluster faces a slightly different mix of challenges and opportunities, all are seeking to create a business environment that enables South Carolina companies to pursue a differentiated position vis-à-vis other regions. Findings for the tourism cluster indicate a need for improved collaboration amongst its disparate members, identification of a set of highly attractive, high-spending tourist segments, determination of how South Carolina can best package its tourism assets to these segments, and execution of a successful marketing strategy to bring them together.

The South Carolina Tourism Alliance was announced on February 12, 2008 during the S.C. Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Travel at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.  Established by the members of the Travel and Tourism Cluster Committee and based on the recommendations in the Tourism Action Plan, the South Carolina Tourism Alliance is a collaborative partnership bringing together business leaders and representatives of the private and public sectors to unify the state’s tourism industry and help it reach its economic potential.