Hodges wants Southern task force to boost tourism

Posted 8:39PM on Wednesday 13th February 2002 ( 23 years ago )

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - An unprecedented advertising campaign is helping South Carolina's tourism industry recover from the fallout of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but now Gov. Jim Hodges wants the state to work with Southeastern neighbors to continue the success. On Wednesday, Hodges told industry leaders at the South Carolina Governor's Conference on Tourism and Travel that collaboration is key to generating tourism dollars. ``We have done a wonderful job of packaging our advertising to appeal to those who drive,'' Hodges said about the state's $3.7 million campaign inviting travelers within driving distance to explore South Carolina's coastline to the mountains. ``I think there are some wonderful opportunities that we have across regional lines to do some things with our neighbors in North Carolina and Georgia.'' At Hodges' request, tourism officials from Southern states formed a task force and crafted short-term and long-term proposals to boost tourism, said Moke McGowan, tourism director for South Carolina's Parks, Tourism and Recreation Department. The proposals include matching federal funds with state dollars for state tourism advertising and providing a $500 tax credit for personal travel expenditures, McGowan said. Hodges will ask governors from 18 states and U.S. territories to approve the tourism task force's report at the Southern Governors' Association meeting to be held in conjunction with the National Governors' Association winter meeting in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 26. ''(Tourism) is a very promising industry for the region,'' said Greg Kubiak, senior policy manager for the SGA. ``What helped catapult it for the governors is we had such a dramatic impact after Sept. 11.'' The travel and tourism industry represents $194 billion for the region and employs over 3 million people in the South, according the SBA Web site. Tourism was a $14.6 billion industry in South Carolina last year, South Carolina's tourism officials say. Currently, 14 percent of the state's work force or more than 270,000 South Carolinians are employed in a tourism-related business. ``As we craft state policy that deals with everything from job creation to where we will be as a state in the 21st century ... we need to make certain the tourism industry has a seat at the table,'' Hodges said. Hodges said he envisions creating a partnership with Williamsburg, N.C., which is just up the coast from Myrtle Beach, and promoting rural tourism in the western part of the state with Georgia. ``We've talked about (tourism partnerships) in the past,'' said Robert Morris, spokesman for the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Industry. ``It's something we really need.'' Jim Robertson, spokesman for the tourism division at North Carolina's Commerce Department said he's always working with South Carolina officials, but it's never been more important than now. ``Definitely in the wake of the slowing economy you need to concentrate on your neighbors,'' Robertson said.

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