South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has announced that $20M of the state's COVID-19 Response Reserve Account funds will be spent on destination marketing to promote SC's most popular tourist areas.
SC's 2020 revenues from tourism are expected to be down $5B year-on-year by the end of October.
Five regional DMOs will share in $15M of the $20M fund:
- Myrtle Beach Area Chamber $6.88M
- Charleston Area CVB $4.08M
- Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber $1.43M
- Visit Greenville SC $1.33M
- Columbia Metro CVB $1.28M
These 5 regional DMOs are required to spend the allocated funds by 30 June 2020 on producing or placing advertising.
The SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism will get the remaining $5M, to be spent to promote other regions of the state.
