Columbia, S.C. - Governor Jim Hodges and South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director John Durst today announced that travel and tourism in South Carolina are on the rise following a slowdown after September 11. The Governor credits swift action for the industry's quick recovery.

"In the aftermath of September 11, South Carolina aggressively moved to address the challenges presented," Hodges said. "By encouraging travel and tourism in South Carolina, our state has been able to recover this industry and our economy from last year's slowdown."

During today's announcement, the Governor noted that in some instances the state's tourism economy has not only recovered but has exceeded last year's numbers.

• Accommodation tax receipts in January were over five percent higher than January 2001.
• Admissions tax receipts in November, December, and January were higher than the previous year's collections (19 percent in November, one percent in December, six percent in January).
• Advance bookings on the Grand Strand up five percent to twenty percent higher than last year.
• Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce - first quarter group and convention leads broke all-time records for the Convention Bureau.
• Inquiries from North Carolina residents are up 118 percent so far this year, from New Yorkers up 124 percent, and from Canadians up 151 percent.
• Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday - Grand Strand is currently out-performing the rest of the Southeast in rounds played.
• Charleston Area - increase of 48 percent in visitor inquiries.
• Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo had 8,600 visitors just this Tuesday