{"id":6,"date":"2023-06-29T19:38:50","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T19:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2023-07-06T05:25:04","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T05:25:04","slug":"about-scaat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/about-scaat\/","title":{"rendered":"About SCAAT"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6\" class=\"elementor elementor-6\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-35ad2f6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"35ad2f6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1f70a35\" data-id=\"1f70a35\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34e2cc1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"34e2cc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ed96e97 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"7ed96e97\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-634cb0fb\" data-id=\"634cb0fb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3041749b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3041749b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ABOUT SCAAT<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03d7e74 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03d7e74\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b69af5\" data-id=\"5b69af5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69aeda3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"69aeda3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4916d6af elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4916d6af\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cbc9bd7\" data-id=\"cbc9bd7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c626837 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c626837\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c58af5\" data-id=\"6c58af5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;slideshow&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_gallery&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:215,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.scaat.us\\\/dev\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/AATC-Heavyhit.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:214,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.scaat.us\\\/dev\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/african-woman-meeting-office-concept.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:213,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.scaat.us\\\/dev\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/handsome-african-americam-man-forging-steel-next-to-furnace-in-dark-workshop-small-business-comcept.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:212,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.scaat.us\\\/dev\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/round-of-applause-in-a-seminar.jpg&quot;}],&quot;background_slideshow_loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_duration&quot;:5000,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_transition_duration&quot;:500}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58c4c39c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"58c4c39c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1207\" height=\"1048\" src=\"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/mask2-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-207\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/mask2-1.png 1207w, http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/mask2-1-300x260.png 300w, http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/mask2-1-1024x889.png 1024w, http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/mask2-1-768x667.png 768w, http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/mask2-1-600x521.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1207px) 100vw, 1207px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-11fac061 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"11fac061\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-57f02321\" data-id=\"57f02321\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-496de0f0 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"496de0f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-quote-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a4abc0e\" data-id=\"1a4abc0e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43dce524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"43dce524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">Venessa Greenitt, Georgetown, SC \u201cI have attended this conference for 4 years now, and each year it gets better and better.\u201d\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">Venessa Greenitt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Attendee <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64bd5f7d elementor-star-rating--align-center elementor--star-style-star_fontawesome elementor-widget elementor-widget-star-rating\" data-id=\"64bd5f7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"star-rating.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-star-rating__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-star-rating\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Rating\" itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"reviewRating\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-star-full\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#xE934;<\/i><i class=\"elementor-star-full\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#xE934;<\/i><i class=\"elementor-star-full\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#xE934;<\/i><i class=\"elementor-star-full\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#xE934;<\/i><i class=\"elementor-star-full\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#xE934;<\/i>\t\t\t\t<span itemprop=\"ratingValue\" class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Rated 5 out of 5<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7aad70e8\" data-id=\"7aad70e8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e91ad80 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"3e91ad80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-quote-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f542dd8 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f542dd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjYzNCIsInRvZ2dsZSI6ZmFsc2V9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">ATTENDEE VIDEO<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-50867309\" data-id=\"50867309\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7049a45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7049a45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">History<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6f29ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f6f29ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">African- American Tourism Conference: Economic Impact<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-272eeb63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"272eeb63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/underline-wave-green-q8wpji6005fe94b1nh835rebax1hb7cc7owf0w4bmo.png\" title=\"underline-wave-green\" alt=\"underline-wave-green\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51f210e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51f210e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What can get African- American residents from cash strapped but historic communities and officials from the tourism industry, both engaged in the discussion of African American Tourism? Billions of dollars of economic impact! More is always better and Tourism Industry officials are always looking for strategies to increase the number of visitors to South Carolina, and the development of the African- American niche is one such strategy with promise. The charleston visitor economy generates $27 Billion dollars in gross sales within the tri-county area. The African- American niche of this sector can add millions of additional visitors coming to this state and thus increase the industry\u2019s economic impact on the state. The potential is there, perhaps more so than anywhere else in the nation, because in Charleston, and South Carolina we are rich in spiritual, cultural, and entrepreneurial traditions. This potential has been stifled by the failure of local and state governments and regional visitor bureaus to collaborate, and strategize with African- American businesses, and non- profits concerning this niche. The process of removing this obstacle begins with the convening of the annual African- American Tourism Conferences, whose goals are to 1) Educate residents &amp; tourism industry officials about the benefits of investing into the development of this niche, and 2) strategize on the future growth and development of this niche of the industry.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-60c7e92b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"60c7e92b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-38e5cf8b\" data-id=\"38e5cf8b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53227559 elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"53227559\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">Hotels<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"43\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-64c80dfc\" data-id=\"64c80dfc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37f123ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"37f123ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">Restaurants<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"15\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3461a50\" data-id=\"3461a50\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48f439c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"48f439c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">Tours<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"27\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-386284d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"386284d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6aa0c33d\" data-id=\"6aa0c33d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-61b79396 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"61b79396\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bae5e9e\" data-id=\"bae5e9e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41f5e939 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"41f5e939\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Millions of New Visitors Means More Money for Everyone!<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d601a74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4d601a74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/underline-wave-green-q8wpji6005fe94b1nh835rebax1hb7cc7owf0w4bmo.png\" title=\"underline-wave-green\" alt=\"underline-wave-green\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31014d33 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31014d33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>African-American tourists are responsible for a whopping $2.4 billion in economic impact for South Carolina. That is just one of the findings from a study recently completed by USC\u2019s SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism in partnership with JC &amp; Associates. The study, jointly funded by the Center and SCPRT, also found significant potential to grow this segment, along with high interest from travelers of all races outside of the state wanting to explore our African-American cultural experiences. For example, a 5% increase in visitors interested in this niche would produce an impact of $118 Million.<\/p><p>Overall, South Carolina has a 5% share of the U.S. African-American travel market, ranking 13th among the 50 states, but it lags behind other Southern States in successfully developing this market. According to the US Travel Data center, more than half of the 33.1 million African-Americans in the U.S. live in Southern states, and are much more likely to travel in the region (63%), compared to travelers overall (39%). We can draw more visitors and their dollars with the enticement of this niche, but first we must invest attention and resources as local and state governments, and regional visitor bureaus.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-578d528f elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"578d528f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-31f54343\" data-id=\"31f54343\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-101844eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"101844eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ABOUT SCAAT Venessa Greenitt, Georgetown, SC \u201cI have attended this conference for 4 years now, and each year it gets better and better.\u201d Venessa Greenitt Attendee &#xE934;&#xE934;&#xE934;&#xE934;&#xE934; 5\/5 ATTENDEE VIDEO History African- American Tourism Conference: Economic Impact What can get African- American residents from cash strapped but historic communities and officials from the tourism industry, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":665,"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scaat.us\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}