Gov. Mark Sanford stopped by the Governor's Conference on Tourism and Travel on Tuesday to update the 500 tourism leaders attending with his thoughts on the state's top industry.

Why he voted against $7 million for a trade center in Myrtle Beach and for a culinary school in Charleston:

It was the first time money from that economic-development fund was used for tourism infrastructure. There was no job creation or private investment requirement attached to that funding, he said.

"Those kinds of parameters are very, very important," Sanford said. "We have a finite number of dollars ... and you want to put those dollars where it will make the greatest difference."

On relying on tourism to grow the economy as manufacturing declines:

"We've got the competitive advantage on this front. ... We hold the high ground. Tourism is one of the major drivers, and we want to continue to help it grow."

On visitors spending an average of $303 each last year, an increase despite high gas prices:

"That is very, very impressive when you look at the economic climate we are operating in."