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Tourism Research Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

State of South Carolina

Research Manager

Columbia, SC · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Job Responsibilities The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is a cabinet ... Perform special duties as requested by the Agency Director, Chief of Staff, or Director of ...

Meridian Group

Director of Marketing

Atlanta, GA

Director of MarketingDestination Marketing Organization | Greater Atlanta, Georgia Meridian Group ... Analyze tourism research, industry data, travel trends, and competitive activity to inform ...

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City Of Douglasville

TOURISM MANAGER

Douglasville, GA · On-site

$69K/yr

... Director. * Oversees daily operations of the Douglasville Welcome Center and supervises tourism ... Identifies target tourism markets through research and develops outreach strategies including group ...

City of Denison

Tourism Intern

Denison, TX · On-site

$13 - $17.25/hr

... Research tourism, hospitality, and destination marketing trends Assist visitors with merchandise ... in directing public and fulfilling customer service needs/requests Highly skilled in customer ...

City of Denison, TX

Tourism Intern

Denison, TX · On-site

$13 - $17.25/hr

Research tourism, hospitality, and destination marketing trends * Assist visitors with merchandise ... Ability to use sound judgment in directing public and fulfilling customer service needs/requests

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Tourism Research Director information

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$57.5K

$191.3K

$230.5K

How much do tourism research director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for tourism research director in the United States is $191,320.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,500.00 and $229,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Tourism Research Director do?

A Tourism Research Director oversees and coordinates research projects that analyze trends, data, and the overall impact of tourism in a specific region or country. They are responsible for gathering and interpreting data on tourism flows, visitor demographics, and economic impact to inform policy and strategy. Their work helps guide marketing campaigns, improve visitor experiences, and support sustainable tourism development. They often collaborate with government agencies, tourism boards, and private sector stakeholders.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Tourism Research Director?

To thrive as a Tourism Research Director, you need expertise in market research, data analysis, and strategic planning, often supported by a degree in tourism, economics, or a related field. Familiarity with statistical software (such as SPSS or R), GIS tools, and industry databases is typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are crucial for producing actionable insights that guide tourism policy, business decisions, and sustainable destination development.

What are some common challenges faced by a Tourism Research Director, and how can they be addressed?

One common challenge for a Tourism Research Director is balancing the need for timely, actionable insights with the complexity of collecting and analyzing data from diverse sources, such as visitor surveys, economic indicators, and industry partners. Additionally, aligning research outcomes with stakeholder expectations—like government bodies, tourism boards, and private sector partners—can be demanding. To address these challenges, strong project management skills, clear communication, and the ability to prioritize research projects based on organizational goals are essential. Building collaborative relationships within multidisciplinary teams also helps ensure research findings are relevant and actionable.

What is the difference between Tourism Research Director vs Tourism Data Analyst?

AspectTourism Research DirectorTourism Data Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Tourism, Hospitality, or related fields; experience in research leadershipBachelor's or Master's in Data Analysis, Statistics, or related fields; proficiency in data tools
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, overseeing research projects, managing teamsData collection, analysis, reporting, often in an office setting
Employer & Industry UsageTourism boards, travel agencies, hospitality companiesTourism organizations, research firms, government agencies

The Tourism Research Director focuses on leading research initiatives, strategic planning, and managing teams to inform tourism development. In contrast, the Tourism Data Analyst primarily handles data collection, analysis, and reporting to support decision-making. Both roles require strong analytical skills, but the director role emphasizes leadership and strategic oversight.

What are the most commonly searched types of Tourism Research jobs?

The most popular types of Tourism Research jobs are:

What are popular job titles related to Tourism Research Director jobs?

For Tourism Research Director jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Tourism Research Director job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $191,320 per year, or $92 per hour.

Research Manager

Columbia, SC • On-site

State of South Carolina
Public Administration • 10K+ employees
Learn more about State of South Carolinaexternal

$75K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

State Of South Carolina rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 47 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Responsibilities The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is a cabinet agency assigned to operate and manage South Carolina's state parks, market the state as a preferred vacation destination and provide assistance to communities to develop recreation assets. Job Purpose and Duties: Executes agency's economic impact analyses efforts related to parks, recreation and tourism; Executes agency's marketing research program related to marketing South Carolina as a tourism destination; plans and designs ad hoc data analyses and research projects; Presents research findings; Respond to requests from the general public for tourism-research related information. Participates in agency teams as needed.

1) Provide tourism-related data and technical support to agency staff, government officials, industry partners and the general public on an ad hoc or periodical basis. Perform special duties as requested by the Agency Director, Chief of Staff, or Director of Recreation, Grants & Policy. 2) Produce macro-economic analyses that benchmark and measure the contributions of tourism-related economic performance at state and local levels.

3) Produce marketing research studies to provide strategic direction for SCPRT's advertising/marketing programs and evaluate their effectiveness. 4) Recommend, coordinate and execute research activities that support and inform agency strategic planning, goals and objectives. 5) Practice and promote teamwork within the program area, throughout the agency and with external agency stakeholders.

Represents Section as an active member on agency teams assigned throughout the year. Minimum and Additional Requirements Master's degree in economics, statistics or a related field and at least four (4) years experience in applied research related to economic development or marketing research or a bachelor's degree in economics, statistics or a related field with at least six (6) years experience in economic development or marketing research. Additional Requirements: 1) Ability to plan and manage projects and meet deadlines.

Ability to plan, assign, direct and review the work of others. Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions. Ability to coordinate multiple activities simultaneously while exercising exceptional attention to detail; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Ability to exercise discretion. Working knowledge of agency mission, policy, and procedure. 2) Extensive knowledge of and experience with macro-economic modeling, preferably related to tourism; considerable knowledge of inferential statistics and consumer research methods, preferably related to marketing research; ability to design complex research studies; knowledge of sampling and other data collection methods; Knowledge and experience with data handling and creating complex analyses; Extensive knowledge and experience related to presenting findings in written and oral format.

Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office products; Extensive knowledge of and experience with economic and statistical analysis software (e.g. IMPLAN, REMI, SAS, SPSS, R); Some experience with using LLMs to conduct research. Additional Comments Actual Job Location: Recreational Grants & Policy This position is Monday-Friday, onsite (not a remote position)

This position will supervise the Research Coordinator position. *This is a reposting. Previous applicants are still being considered and need not apply.

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer.

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About State of South Carolina

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State of South Carolina is not a typical corporation, but the governing body of the US state of South Carolina, located in the capital city of Columbia. Its industry focuses on public administration, providing key essential services to ensure the efficient functioning of the state. These services range from public safety and environment protection to education, healthcare, and economic development. The state was founded in 1788, grounded in democratic principles meant to support the overall well-being of its citizenry. Its core values revolve around service, integrity, accountability, and transparency. The mission of the State of South Carolina is to improve the quality of life for all its people, with a focus on education advancement, economic growth, and improved healthcare.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Columbia, SC, US

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