Here at the Berkeley Chamber, we are not only the “Leading Voice Of Business in Berkeley County”, but also the leading voice of tourism. While some areas have a separate Convention & Visitors Bureau, we handle all of the tourism marketing efforts directly from our office. Our aggressive marketing efforts continue to pay off. In fact, just when many areas were experiencing a decrease in tourism, we ended 2008 with a 6% increase. It is important to find a happy balance between tourism and business development. No area can thrive, or even survive for that matter, on tourism dollars alone. New business and industries are essential. However, tourism is the perfect “compliment” to an emerging area such as Berkeley County. Tourism does bring dollars into our area, and does provide cash flow to businesses such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations, gift shops, etc. One of our challenges we constantly face is ensuring we have unique and diverse activities to offer. The Berkeley Chamber recently entered into a partnership which will ultimately benefit the entire tri-county area. We have teamed up with all of our member hotels in Berkeley County, Gahagan Sports Complex, also a member, in Dorchester County and Lancaster Trailways of the Carolinas, a new member in Charleston County, to offer special day trips for sports teams and their family members who come to the area for sports tournaments. We are hoping this effort will help stimulate additional cash flow not just in Berkeley County, but Charleston and Dorchester Counties as well.
Have any thoughts on programs we can offer out-of-town visitors or a tourism marketing effort which may positively impact your business? E-mail me, I would love to hear your ideas.
