African-American tourism on rise in South Carolina after removal of Confederate flag
October 1, 2016
African-American tourists are responsible for a whopping $2.4 billion in economic impact for South Carolina, and that number is rising since the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds in Columbia.
A study recently completed by USC’s SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism also found significant potential to grow this segment, along with high interest from travelers of all races wanting to explore South Carolina’s African-American cultural experiences.
Almost half of the 900 African-American travelers from out of state surveyed for the study said the flag’s removal had, or would, influence their decision to travel to South Carolina. However, barriers remain.
The study also found 50 percent of African-Americans who have not visited South Carolina still fear racial discrimination if they travel here. This number is slightly less (40 percent) for those who have visited this year, but is still a barrier to growing this market.
The results of the study will be presented at the African-American Tourism Conference in Charleston Saturday.
