11-02-2025
Gov. McMaster hosts tourism, travel conference in Spartanburg
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster was in Spartanburg Monday, highlighting the state's growing tourism sector.
A large crowd gathered at the Spartanburg Marriott hotel to welcome tourism leaders from across the state to the Hub City.
The three-day conference is a part of the 60th Annual Governor's Conference on Tourism and Travel. Each year, the event is held in a different city to highlight the area's impact on state tourism.
'Anybody that is involved with tourism in the state of South Carolina at a high level is in Spartanburg County this week — about 400 tourism professionals from all over the state,' said Allen Smith, CEO of OneSpartanburg.
Smith took the stage and highlighted the growth the area has seen.
'We are having tremendous success when it comes to tourism,' Smith explained. 'Last year we recruited 85 events, 32-million-dollar economic impact.'
Smith said more of that success is on the horizon with several multimillion-dollar projects underway.
'We're about to open the Fairfield Inn on St. John's Street, another hotel downtown has been announced all that is culminating with the brand-new minor baseball stadium which will be opening in April, a Morgan Square renovation, all draws tourist to Spartanburg County,' Smith continued.
The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism estimated that tourism in the state is a $29 billion industry, supporting one in every 10 jobs and generating 1.8 billion dollars in state and local taxes.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
