By admin 
South Carolina isn’t just seeing a massive population growth. Tourists are also flocking to the Palmetto State to get a small taste of Southern life.
Read more Plenty of summer festivals remain across SC. Here are some of the best to try
Cities like Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Columbia draw in millions of visitors annually due to their attractions, leisure and scenery. In 2024, more than 17 million tourists traveled to Columbia and generated nearly $3 billion in business sales, according to Experience Columbia SC.
As a result, it’s well established that tourism is a vital economic driver in the state.
The most recent tourist data for 2025 indicates that the tourism industry is just as alive and well as it was in previous years. The 2025 Tourism Impact Update, a snapshot of Columbia’s tourist data, was recently released by Lake Murray Country, the website behind the tourism region of Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda and the City of Columbia.
The report reveals how much tourists spent in Columbia, how much of it went to local businesses, how much they spent on overnight accommodations, and tourists’ demographics.
Here are Columbia’s latest tourism statistics for 2025:
Columbia tourism stats
According to the economic snapshot from Lake Murray Country, more than one-third, around 36%, of spending in Columbia came from visitors in 2025.
Read more Savannah River Site getting 1 gigawatt data center as Feds pick developer
“From dining and shopping to lodging and entertainment, visitor spending brings new dollars into the city and supports local businesses year-round,” Lake Murray Country said.
Additionally, tourists spent most of their money on local businesses rather than corporate-owned chains. Around 75% of visitor spending went toward local businesses, such as restaurants, retailers, attractions and service providers.
The hotels and other lodging options in Columbia are used almost entirely by tourists. Visitors account for nearly all hotel spending in Columbia, contributing around 88% of all accommodation spending in 2025, highlighting the importance of overnight travel options in the city, according to Lake Murray Country.
“Overnight guests also generate additional spending at nearby restaurants, shops, attractions, and entertainment venues, amplifying tourism’s overall economic impact,” they said.
Who’s coming to visit Columbia?
The study also highlighted the demographics of those who came to visit Columbia in 2025:
Read more Savannah River Site getting 1 gigawatt data center as Feds pick developer
- 63% of visitors came from outside South Carolina
- 56% were between the ages of 25–54
- 49% reported household incomes above $100,000
- Top visitor markets included Charlotte, Greenville-Spartanburg, Charleston, Atlanta, and Florence-Myrtle Beach.