(AP) -- Tourism spending increased about $1 billion in South Carolina during 2010 as the state emerged from the depths of the Great Recession.
The previous year was one of the worst tourism seasons in recent years as spending totaled about $14 billion. Figures from the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism on Friday compiled by the U.S. Travel Association show that spending in 2010 was about $15 billion, an increase of nearly 8 percent.
Tourism numbers lag a year or two behind as statistics are collected.
Dudley Jackson with the research department at PRT says the recovery in 2010 was expected but the size of the increase was a bit of a surprise.
He says the industry should look for yearly growth of around 5 percent as the economy recovers.
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