(AP) -- Tourism in the Carolinas is expected to continue a solid recovery this year from the Great Recession.
Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce president Brad Dean says that while the recovery has been slow, tourism has been a bright spot for the economy.
Travel means a combined $39 billion to the economies of the two states.
In North Carolina, hotel occupancy rates were up 7 percent statewide through last November, compared with the same period in 2009.
During the same period, hotel occupancy in South Carolina was up 6.7 percent - ahead of the national figure of 5.7 percent.
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