Taking the initiative of boosting tourism between India and South Carolina, Nikki Haley, governor, State of South Carolina, USA, recently visited the country for a 10 day tour. According to Haley, “South Carolina offers the perfect mix of business and tourism as it is the friendliest state and topmost vacation spot in the USA. The vibrant culture, rich heritage and natural beauty along with the ease of access and connectivity make for an experience and not just a vacation.” Haley’s delegation has targeted over 90 meetings across New Delhi, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Mumbai and Chennai during the tour.
Duane Parrish, director, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, said, “South Carolina recorded around 25,000-30,000 Indian arrivals in 2013. We are looking to double this figure and the growth of middle and upper-middle classes in India makes it a prime market for us. We want to use social media and outdoor advertisement as tools to create awareness and are currently also looking to organise a fam trip for Indian travel consultants in the next 12 months.”
“Tourism is generating nearly US$18 billion a year in economic impact and representing more than 10 per cent of the South Carolina’s total employment.” said Haley. Currently, key source markets for South Carolina include Mexico, Canada, the UK, Germany and France. “This is the first time we are promoting the state in the Indian market and therefore not only just introducing ourselves but also trying to figure out how to position the destination. India ranks among the top seven source markets for South Carolina,” added Parrish.
At present, half of all Indian visitors to South Carolina travel for business, while the rest are leisure travellers. “We are keen to increase the share of leisure travellers from India. We also want to promote adventure activities like kayaking, boating and hiking.” Parrish said. He is also planning to visit India again in September 2015 with a 12-member delegation comprising tourism promoters from specific locations like Charleston.