We have lakes, mountains, cities and other resources in the Upstate and they’re not being used to the best potential.

That’s what Kent Dykes told Pickens County Council Monday night during the public comment session. The president of Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce, Dykes listed a number of ideas that would help Oconee and Pickens counties share a piece of the lucrative tourism pie in South Carolina.

After reviewing a 210-page July 2006 tourism study called South Carolina Tourism Action Plan, compiled by New Carolina, Dykes picked from a list of actions that could be taken to strengthen tourism traffic to the area.

The study contains a product and facilities audit for municipalities and areas in the state, including a score measuring the potential for tourism growth. Clemson scored a four out of five for tourism potential, with five indicating an “excellent” ranking.

Nearby Pendleton scored a five, with high marks for the heritage appeal. An “Upcountry, Towns and Attractions” section lumped various municipalities together, including Seneca, Westminster, Walhalla, Pickens and Easley. The study indicated these municipalities needed urban renewal programs, as there were “many vacant shops and closed antique shops.”

The potential score for these municipalities was a three. “Need for towns to identify and promote what is special about this area,” the study said.

Dykes recommended several actions for Pickens County Council to take in order to enhance tourism-drawing capabilities. “Tourism has the potential to be the equivalent of adding a large new company with hundreds of employees to Pickens County,” he said.

Dykes also said Pickens should form a tourism leadership council to advise on short- and long-term strategies, incorporating the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, Discovery Upstate and the Pendleton District Historical and Tourism Commission.

Council Member Jennifer Willis moved to have the county examine the possibility of establishing a leadership council. Council then approved the motion.

Other recommendations made by Dykes:

– Learn from the Tourism Development International study conducted for the Upstate, the Outdoor Cluster of which concerns Pickens County.

– Fund a display for Pickens County to use for tourism exhibits. The cost for such a display would be about $1,500, according to Dykes.

– Fully fund the updated version of Tour Pickens Magazine.

– Endorse www.tourpickenscounty.com as the primary Web site for tourism in Pickens.

______

Read tomorrow’s edition of the Daily Journal/Daily Messenger to find out how Tri-County Technical College is responding to the tourism potential of the Upstate.