Experts befuddled by S.C.'s reaction to adBy Page Ivey
Associated Press
Monday, July 21, 2008
COLUMBIA — In late June, travel agent Matthew DeGuire got a call from a customer about an ad in London's subway. "South Carolina is so gay" read the ad, alongside others touting Las Vegas, New Orleans, Boston and Atlanta also as being "so gay." The ads were timed with London's annual gay pride festival. "He was pleasantly surprised about it," DeGuire said of his client. But several state officials, including Gov. Mark Sanford, think the ad went too far. While the state's tourism agency initially agreed to pay $5,000 for the ad, the governor and other officials are now refusing to pick up that tab, saying taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used to promote any group with a particular social or political agenda. The employee at the state Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department who approved the ad has resigned, and Republican Sen. David Thomas has called for an audit of the state agency's spending. The state officials' position has befuddled experts in the field of gay travel. "South Carolina is not typically known as a gay travel destination," said John Tanzella, executive director of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. "But there are things for gay people to do there. It's a beautiful state and that appeals to everybody. "The fact that they don't want to invest ($5,000) for the campaign for such a lucrative niche market to me is mind-boggling," he said. Bob Witeck, chief executive officer of Washington-based Witeck-Combs consulting firm that specializes in helping businesses tap into the gay and lesbian consumer market, said a survey showed gay travelers accounted for about $40 billion of the $461 billion spent worldwide by U.S. leisure travelers in 2006. Gay travelers tend to stay longer at their destinations than other travelers and spend more money while they are there, Witeck said. Gays and lesbians also tend to travel more often than other tourists, he said. Tourism is South Carolina's largest industry, employing about 200,000 people and bringing in about $10 billion a year from visitors. State tourism agency spokesman Marion Edmonds said that the ad did not fit in with the state's carefully calculated marketing and image plan and that the employee who approved it should have known better. "We really aren't doing niche markets or specialty markets," he said. Thomas did not return telephone messages left at his Greenville law office last week seeking comment. A statewide gay pride organization has said it plans to raise the $5,000 to pay the state's bill for the ads. |
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Comments
This article has 22 comment(s)
Posted by nikkiP on July 21, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
right alongside the confederate flag horse. PnC better be careful, or they'll hear from PETA about said horse beatings.
Posted by camo on July 21, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The state should pay the tab....it authorized the ad, which leads me to believe that it SHOULD have seen the ad prior to authorizing it....if it did, then approved it they should not back out on paying it.....DUH! Let's turn the tables around, lets say a big name band comes in to perform in Columbia for a fund raiser for the city, Columbia pays for what they need with the stipulation the band will reminburse the city when they are finished, the show happens the performance says they aren't going to pay....what would the city do? Sue the pants off of them that is what. Suck it up and pay your advertising bill for Pete's sake and quit looking like an idiot.....next time maybe you will be more responsible with your advertising and make sure the ads you authorize are what you want the state represented as.
Posted by Tammie on July 21, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lol @ CB
Posted by drp7773 on July 21, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like how they come up with these dollar amounts, just how do they separate gay dollars from other tourist or traveler who just happen to be in town at the same time. 40 Billion dollars????????? from Gay folks only I find this real hard to believe.
Posted by uttles on July 21, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a Clemson fan, I agree, SC is totally gay. Just look at their mascot.
Posted by amicus_non_ego on July 21, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SC is pretty friggin gay sometimes...
When I leave the library at the Law school late night on the weekend, (sometimes you gotta nerd it out to make the grade), it's always hilarious to see the shirtless sailors smoking outside of Club Pantheon...
Posted by Lovely_One on July 21, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CB,
That is terrible! And funny. MableX will be here to beat you to a bloody pulp soon!
Posted by MissPriss on July 21, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL at CB, tripsa, and uttles!
Posted by Tammie on July 21, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG, I am over here rolling!
Posted by SCgal on July 21, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dang, now SC will PO the gays and we lose their longer stay and more dollars spent as they travel elsewhere!
BTW, be responsible and pay your bill!!
Posted by BigSargeofSC on July 21, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"the governor and other officials are now refusing to pick up that tab, saying taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used to promote any group with a particular social or political agenda."
Anyone recall all the times "seperation of church and state" has been tossed around like a cheap football? Can't have your cake and eat it, too.
Posted by summerville_guy on July 21, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Want to know what name sounds like one of those tourists?
The Quattlebaum!
Check out his story here: http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/jul/...
Posted by nikkiP on July 21, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey, USC student here. Leave our Cock alone.
Posted by MissPriss on July 21, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
nikkiP- while some can leave the cock alone it seems to me that Early & CB can't! :)
Posted by tallblonde on July 21, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I always thought it was the old gray mare.......not gay mare.....
I'm glad Robert Ford hasn't got ahold of this yet - it would be a horse of a different color....
Posted by Larz13 on July 21, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All the more reasons to be wearing your lead underwear when walking along King Street late at night.
Posted by Larz13 on July 21, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My advice to the Village People:
Make sure the check clears before you perform in SC.
Posted by Tammie on July 21, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Larz sed: "All the more reasons to be wearing your lead underwear when walking along King Street late at night."
lmao!
Posted by amicus_non_ego on July 21, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd rather not have lead poisoned balls...
Posted by nikkiP on July 21, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
misspriss- I understand. It's hard to resist, which is why I don't understand why people hate on it so much. I think it's just Cock envy.
I mean the mascot!
Posted by farfallaspeaks on July 21, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who cares, this story is old.
the p&C staff must be getting bored.
i guess if i knew i was being "let go" i wouldn't worry too much about publishing anything worthwhile.
Posted by drp7773 on July 21, 2008 at 7:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Befuddled such a gay word, and who are these experts, oh yeah they are gay too, no bias there huh Makes ya wonder about this reporter maybe bias too??????