Support Us Button Widget

2023: A record-setting year for Charleston tourism

A record-setting number of visitors made their way to Charleston last year; see how those trips helped boost the economy + tourism industry.

Pink sunset over the Battery. There are Palmetto tree and the Charleston skyline

There’s nothing quite like golden hour in CHS.

Photo by @owen_granata

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.

A few weeks back, the CHStoday team had the chance to attend an event 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, 2023.”

New standards
Our region continues to outdo itself, setting new records in several areas, including the total number of visitors, airport travelers, sales attributable to tourism, number of people working in the tourism industry, hotel room nights sold, and economic impact, which is up 2.2% from 2022.

Quick facts from 2023

  • 7.79 million | Estimated number of people who visited the Charleston area
  • 70.7% | Average hotel occupancy
  • $185 | Average daily rate of a hotel
  • 6.15 million | People passed through the Charleston International Airport

Economic impact from 2023

  • $13.10 billion | Estimated total economic impact
  • 53,700 | Tourism industry workers
  • $1,048 | Average spending per adult
  • 4.9 million | Hotel room nights sold
  • 24.7% | Sales in the region attributed to tourism

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

More from CHStoday
Robert “Hoot” Gibson will make a stop in the 843 for World Space Week.
Our readers have spoken. Here’s the list of winners, as determined by votes from our audience.
Aged for six years and inspired by live performances, LIVE Straight Bourbon Whiskey from the makers of Firefly Distillery offers a rich, flavorful experience.
Charleston has received the No. 1 honor for a third consecutive year.
Charleston workers have joined the East Coast strike.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the tastes and traditions of Charleston’s Latin American community.
Helene brought record rain + strong winds to several communities across the Carolinas.
Use this guide to explore Charleston-area pumpkin patches.
This comes after the long time restaurant closed last weekend.
Novella Homes announced this transformative project to bring new life to one of Sullivan’s Island’s most iconic structures.