Tourists spent nearly $1 billion in Greenville last year: What to know

Tourism is growing strong in Greenville, and the FS '24 annual report from advertising organization VisitGreenvilleSC (VGSC) shows it.

Visitors who traveled to the city last year spent nearly $1 billion during their stay, spending $939 million in total. During that time, 500,000 trips to Greenville occurred, with 1 million hotel rooms stays.

The surge in tourism has also continued to impact the economy, supporting hospitality jobs and boosting visitor tax revenue.

Here's are VGSC's annual report findings from July 2023 to June 2024.

What is the mission of VisitGreenvilleSC?

VGSC's vision is to propel Greenville as one of the "most visited and talked about travel destinations in the Southeast." By developing and promoting exceptional visitor experiences, the website hopes to continue maximizing Greenville's visitor economy and elevate the quality of life in the community.

From 'Yeah THAT Greenville' to 'Why Greenville?'

"Yeah THAT Greenville" is a phrase used by VGSC that began in 2013. It was used to differentiate Greenville from other towns and cities across the country of the same name, proving to be successful among VGSC's target audience. Now that the phrase has drawn visitors into the city, it is time to for the website's message to be reinvented.

"Still, there was a future opportunity to shift our position from WHICH Greenville to WHY Greenville. Launched in Jan. 2024, the destination brand for Greenville, S.C. has evolved to align with the incredible growth our community has seen over the past ten years to represent the visitor experience of today." said the VGSC website.

What economic impact has tourism had in Greenville?

In 2023, Greenville saw a tourism economic impact of $2.3 billion. This is due to local visitor expenditure, which made up $45.4 million in tax revenues from both the accommodations and hospitality sectors ― revenue that comes directly from activities, dining, and overnight stays. To break it down, $15.2 million accommodations tax revenue was collected locally, and $30.2 million in hospitality tax revenue. Over on the hospitality sector, 56,000 jobs were supported, accounting for over 1 in every 9 jobs ― up 11% year over year. Total hotel revenue also accounted for $333.8 million.

Leisure advertising ROI facts from VisitGreenvilleSC

∎ Every $1 invested in VGSC advertising results in $245 in visitor spending ― up 13% from FY23 ($213:$1)

∎ $939 million direct visitor spending

∎ $500,000+ trips to Greenville

∎ 1 million hotel room nights

How many followers does Greenville have across social media platforms?

VisitGreenvilleSC social channels have gained over 31,000 followers and over 96.5 million impressions. In total, the website has 243,000 social media followers. Here's a breakdown of the number of followers and sites:

∎ Instagram: 124,000 followers

∎ Facebook: 109,000 followers

∎ LinkedIn: 6,900 followers

∎ Pinterest: 3,500 followers

What is Greenville good for?

Leisure ad impact on Greenville perception has benefited the city, rendering it a good place to be for many reasons. For instance, those who visited the city were likely to consider it as a place to live or start or career in the future. Here's a closer look at the numbers:

∎ Start a career: +28%

∎ Start/expand a business: +28%

∎ Attend college: +25%

∎ Raise a family: +22%

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Tourists spent nearly $1 billion in Greenville last year: What to know