Charleston is renowned for its hospitality, rich history, great culinary scene, and beautiful beaches. We consider ourselves lucky to experience what the city has to offer daily and understand why so many are drawn to our city's uniqueness.

The CHStoday team recently attended a luncheon hosted by the folks at Explore Charleston, where we chatted about all things Holy City. There, we saw a presentation from the College of Charleston Office of Tourism Analysis detailing the impact and importance of tourism.

Keep reading for a peek at some of the data from the "Estimation of Tourism’s Economic Impacts in the Greater Charleston Area, 2025."

New standards
Our region continues to outdo itself, setting new records in several areas, including airport travelers, tourism-industry employment, and economic impact, which is up 2.3% from 2025.

Quick facts from 2025

7.91 million | Estimated number of people who visited the Charleston area
70.1% | Average hotel occupancy
$188 | Average daily rate of a hotel
6.34 million | People passed through the Charleston International Airport

Economic impact from 2025

$14.35 billion | Estimated total economic impact
55,500 | Tourism industry workers
$$1,212 | Average spending per adult
4.84 million | Hotel room nights sold
23.6% | Sales in the region attributed to tourism

For those looking to visit the 843, check out these must-see spots recommended by CHStoday readers.