Governor Mark Sanford was left has something to smile about for once: South Carolina is doing better in business recruitment, travel and tourism than any of its neighboring states.

Thanks to increased hotel bookings, spending by foreign tourists and business recruitment deals, South Carolina is pulling slowly out of its economic slump. The recovery in the palmetto state is exceeding that of Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

According to Chad Prosser, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the state ranking in international spending among foreign tourists has risen to 25th in the nation, while the state is 30th in the number of international travelers.

South Carolina is also leading the Southeast in job recruitment in 2009 - big thanks to Boeing for that one.

Read on about South Carolina's accomplishments in the The Post and Courier