Drumming up some business in France

Pouvez-vous dire "South Carolina"?

State tourism promoters were in France last month asking that question - translation: Can you say South Carolina? - aiming to generate interest in the Palmetto State among potential tourists from France. South Carolina, along with 10 other Southeastern states represented by Travel South USA are trying to tap that market, which officials say is one of the most popular international markets to the U.S.

"They are coming to the U.S., and the goal is to get more of them to the Southeast," said Beverly Shelley, director of sales and marketing at the S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism department. "It makes sense to go try to get a piece of that business."

Shelley and about a dozen other tourism promoters that are part of the 11-state Travel South USA association spent about a week in two French cities last month, with Shelley aiming to woo them by mentioning the state's beaches, historical offerings in Charleston and adventure opportunities. The group, which stopped in Paris and Lyon, met with media urging them to write stories about the Southeast region and tour operators who arrange trips, asking them to include the Southeast in their itineraries.

"The French are interested in cultural kinds of things, the outdoors, festivals," Shelley said.

The number of visitors from France skidded a bit in 2009, but was picking up last year, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Travel Association. About 1.2 million residents of France visited the U.S. in 2009, a 3.2 percent decline from 2008, and spent $4.1 billion on their visits, a nearly 14 percent decrease compared to 2008. About 9.6 percent of the residents of France who travel beyond Europe visited the U.S. in 2009, the association says.

Last year through November, the number of visitors from France was up about 12 percent compared to the same period in 2009, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

Shelley admits that South Carolina isn't going to be tops on the list of places for French tourists to check out. Bigger cities such as New York City always will be more popular.

"A place like South Carolina is going to be part of a second visit or third visit," she said.

Shelley says she plans to follow up with the groups she met to try to ensure stories are written and tour operators keep South Carolina in mind. She hadn't tallied the entire cost of her trip, but it cost at least $3,500, she said.

"Breaking into a new market takes time," Shelley said.

'Most Fun' judges play

The duo judging whether Myrtle Beach is worthy of the national "Most Fun" distinction played around the Grand Strand last week.

Juliana Broste and Joan Broste, a mother-daughter team from Denver, Colo., have been charged with having fun in six finalist cities - charting their trek with videos, blog posts and tweets - then deeming one of them the most fun.

Last week, the duo rode the SkyWheel with Myrtle Beach City Councilman Randal Wallace, who also hit the Slingshot ride along Ocean Boulevard with one of the judges. The Brostes also played mini-golf, saw a show at The Carolina Opry and kayaked on the Waccamaw River, according to the pair's blog charting their adventure.

"There are a bazillion things to do. It's bigger than we thought it would be, and there is plenty of fun fun fun for everyone," they wrote.

Myrtle Beach was the pair's first stop. Next up will be the beach's competitors, in no particular order: Vacaville, Calif.; Santa Claus, Ind.; Yellow Springs, Ohio; Glenwood Springs, Colo.; and Sioux City, Iowa.

The winner will be announced July 22 at the Destination Marketing Association International Annual Convention in Los Angeles. Other categories: Most Beautiful, Most Patriotic, Friendliest and Best for Food. The contest is sponsored by Rand McNally and USA Today.

Winning cities will be featured in the 2013 Rand McNally Road Atlas and included in coverage in USA Today.