MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) – A county-wide accommodations fee will fund local tourism projects in Berkeley County.
Any receipts for overnight stays at hotels or rental units in Berkeley County will show a ‘Local Accommodations Fee’ that charges 2% extra to guests. The fee will go to the county’s tourism department which funds any organizations with long-term tourism projects in an annual application.
The application period for Accommodations Fee funding started for the third year in a row Feb. 1 and is set to stay open until the end of the month. This funding goes toward any project, such as signs and advertisement, civic centers and any highways or roads that lead to tourist spots.
Tourism Director Rachel Knight says funding projects helps improve the quality of life for people in the area.
“It all makes our area look more appealing, more attractive, more interesting and unique based on all the different factors that come into this whether its outdoor recreation, history, culture and arts, food,” Knight says.
Knight says this is especially important as the area’s population count is on the rise.
“Fort Fair Lawn was kind of tucked back in the woods, located in Old Santee Canal Park but not a clear path to get there. So for example, they did receive accommodations fee funds previously to build a path. Over the wetlands, they had to build bridges and such like that.”
The tourism director says 12 organizations apply on average. Knight says the funding amount increases over the years as the fees brought in $1 million to the department and projects in 2021.
Chosen organizations have two years to use the money to help finish projects. Tourism leaders say groups are welcome to reapply for annual funding once projects are completed and deemed beneficial to the county.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Berkeley County accommodations fee to fund tourism projects
- Advertisment - 