Who’s Coming to Charleston – besides everybody?

While the Charleston area is never short for day trippers and week-long vacationers, the majority of people who visit from out of state, dating back to 2018, have come almost exclusively from five East Coast locations: North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Virginia and New York.

“Within that timeframe, the top five states have remained largely consistent,” said Dan Guttentag, associate professor and director of the Office of Tourism Analysis with College of Charleston. “The only exception was in 2019, when Pennsylvania replaced Virginia in the top five list.”

How big is the current impact? Consider that over the last five years, the total number of annual visitors to the Greater Charleston Area has grown significantly, from just over 7.23 million in 2021, to a whopping 7.91 million in 2025. If you’re keeping score, that’s an increase of 680,000, or 136,000 per year on average. And approximately 1 of every 3 visitors comes from the above five states.

All of which – despite soaring consumer goods, hotel rentals and plane tickets – translates to a record $14.35 billion in economic impact in 2025, a 2.3% increase over 2024. Put another way: almost one-quarter of all annual Lowcountry sales, as estimated by the Charleston region’s travel and hospitality industry, come from tourism. While hotel room costs have risen each year since 2021, occupancy is currently holding at a staggering three-year mark of 70%.

“The variety of experiences available to visitors of all ages is undoubtedly a major draw,” said Chris Campbell, vice president of strategy & external affairs with Explore Charleston. “At the same time, the continued growth of nonstop air service at Charleston International has significantly expanded access to markets including parts of Florida, Northern Virginia and New York State.”

While it is hard to pinpoint why more people in these states and in Georgia and North Carolina are attracted to Charleston, the attractions themselves have been staples for the past 100 years, and some since before the nation’s birth:

Antebellum homes and Revolutionary War buildingsA simple 30-minute walk along East Bay Street can make you feel as if you’re about to encounter a patriot in an 18th-century brick tavern, or a Civil War general commandeering one of the many stately homes leading down to the Battery.Fort SumterThe site where the Civil War began, you’re treated not only to the cast iron cannons and bombarded walls, but to expert guides who put you right in the experience with stories about the fort you never learned in schoolSeafoodWhat’s a trip to Charleston without sampling top-notch seafood, such as what you find at Hyman’s on Meeting Street? For visitors who think all she-crab soup is created equal, once they taste the Charleston recipe, created on demand by an early 20th-century local chef, they’re hard-pressed to accept any other.

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“History remains the leading reason leisure travelers choose to visit the Charleston area,” Campbell said. “Our celebrated culinary scene continues to gain momentum and now ranks as the second most influential draw. Other attributes that resonate with visitors are our renowned beaches, abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, diverse collection of tours and attractions, extensive shopping options and a popular calendar of festivals and events that showcase the character and culture of our region.”By L. C. Leach III