South Carolina offers unique experiences related to seafood harvest and production, maritime history and culture of fishing, marine fisheries ecology, and seafood culinary interests. Coastal tourists are supportive of sustainability initiatives for local marine-resource dependent businesses. A seafood-themed drive trail could be an incubator for entrepreneurship, creating more opportunities for marketing local seafood products through a unified brand image. There are other theme-based trails in the region, but no studies have assessed the potential for a South Carolina seafood trail. Research is needed to assess capacity for cooperation and partnership for this type of business incubator. The S.C. Seafood Alliance is supportive, and there is potential to link in with agri-tourism initiatives in the Pee Dee and adjacent rural areas.
The researchers plan to (1) identify all potential business participants and tourism planning partners relevant to a seafood related tourism trail on the South Carolina coast, (2) gather input from potential trail stakeholders (businesses, tourism planners) on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to formation of a seafood trail, and (3) facilitate information sharing and collaborative thinking among potential business partners and tourism management organizations regarding development of a S.C. Seafood Trail.