Jobs: About 132,400 workers have direct ties to the tourism industry, or about 7 percent of all S.C. jobs.

Economic impact: Tourism has about $6.2 billion in direct impact, or a little more than 5 percent of all the goods and services produced in the state.

Taxes: Tourism produces more than $935 million in sales, property, accommodations, admissions and other taxes.

Visitors: About 29 million people visit S.C. destinations a year.

Hotel occupancy rates: About 55 percent of available rooms were sold during the first five months of this year, down 1.2 percent from 2002. The national rate was close to 60 percent but down 1.6 percent.

Source: S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department