Does the Tourism Expenditure Review Committee monitor local accommodations taxes?
No, the Committee’s charge is to monitor state accommodations tax reporting only. If an entity encounters a problem concerning local accommodations taxes, it must be worked out from a local level. Question: The issue of the distance a “tourist” has to travel is concerning to some accommodations tax recipients. We know TERC will look at individual situations, case by case, but for the general question of how far a tourist has to travel to be considered a “tourist” needs to be clarified. Something in writing would be helpful, so that we have something to give our organizations. Answer: The Committee has drafted a policy on the definition of tourist, which is posted on our website: www.atax.sc.gov. The law defines tourists as those traveling outside of their “home communities,” however; it does not define home community. Therefore, the Committee has adopted the geographical definition of tourist used by the national Tourism Industry Association and the South Carolina Department of Parks R
