The NET Effect: National Extension Tourism case studies

T hese areas also are a significant contributor to the state’s economy. The U.S. Travel As - sociation (USTA) estimates that visitors to South Carolina’s eight coastal counties spent over $9.1 billion in 2018. Of this, it is estimated that up to $1.31 billion is spent on coastal nature-based tourism, leading almost $1.5 billion in economic output, when including multiplier effects. The environmental and social impact of this activity can be equally significant, though—so many local and state agencies, small businesses, conserva - tionists, and educational organizations, including the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, work diligently to develop and support sustainable economic development and tourism practices that keep the coastal areas healthy and thriving, while honoring and preserving local histories and cultures.

Communities Program Specialist April Turner talk about the Consortium’s recent accomplishments and how they partner with the community to meet pro - gram goals. Give some examples of the kinds of projects the Consortium has done. Over the past decade, food tourism and cultural heri - tage tourism, in particular, have begun to thrive. Sever - al coastal states—including Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Maryland— have created “seafood trails,” for example, as a way to promote local seafood

Q & A Matt Gorstein Assistant Director for Development & Extension matthew.gorstein @scseagrant.org April Turner Coastal Communities ProgramSpecialist South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium april.turner@scseagrant.org

businesses. In 2020, in Georgetown, South Caro - lina, the Consortium helped the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce obtain a $282,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop the Gul - lah Geechee Seafood Trail, in partnership with several other community-based organizations. The goal of the trail is to enhance the econom - ic resilience and marketing potential of small, mostly rural, locally owned seafood business - es—including fishers, harvesters, aquaculturists, seafood markets, and restaurants. The idea is also to share stories of maritime cultural heritage. We also have several initiatives that strengthen nature-based tourism operators, such as kayak tour outfitters, stand-up paddleboarding outfit - ters, edible foraging guides, and festival and out - door adventure operators. We train them to use social media and their websites to promote their businesses, teach them to write business plans, help them apply for grants, coach them in best

The Consortium focuses its work on five areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable coastal development and economy, weather and climate resilience, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and scientific literacy and workforce develop - ment. In this Q&A, Assistant Director for Devel - opment and Extension Matt Gorstein and Coastal

p South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium has several initiatives that strengthen nature-based tourism operators, such as kayak tour outfitters and stand-up paddleboarding outfitters. (Photos courtesy Elizabeth Andregg, outfitter with Nature Adventures, LLC)

46 The NET Effect | Extension Foundation/NTAE

Extension Foundation/NTAE | The NET Effect 47

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