Sports and Recreation Tourism Strategic Study

Richland County is seeking qualified firms to conduct a Sports and Recreation Tourism Strategic Study to better understand the County’s potential to attract, develop, and capitalize on sports, indoor/outdoor recreation, and leisure tourism as drivers of economic development. The study will provide the County with data, market intelligence, and strategic recommendations to guide investment, destination development, business recruitment, event attraction, infrastructure planning, and support for existing local businesses. The study should evaluate Richland County’s competitive position within the Midlands, broader South Carolina, and regional tourism market, identify opportunities to increase visitor spending and length of stay, and establish strategies for leveraging the County’s existing recreational assets, parks, trails, waterways, athletic facilities, events, businesses, and natural resources. The study should also consider connections to regional destinations and assets where those relationships influence tourism visitation, visitor spending, or the County’s ability to attract sports and recreation-related investment, as well as evaluate emerging trends in the sports and recreation tourism industry.