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COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- Preparing workers for the tourism industry of the 21st Century was the topic of a forum held in Columbia Friday.

The South Carolina Travel and Tourism Coalition sponsored the Friday session.  During the meeting, educators, tourism officials, government and business leaders discussed preparing workers for the industry.

State leaders hope to increase the number of homegrown students interested in the tourism industry by immersing them in it as early as middle school. Tourism employs one out of every ten people in South Carolina. As the state’s major economic driver, industry experts say it is critical to increase the tourism cash flow even if it means reaching into the classroom to find the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Duane Parrish, South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director, said, “It is the largest industry in the state of South Carolina we have to make that connection to higher education and tourism.”

Internships and mentoring programs are part of the plan.

“I started as a bellman right here at a Holiday Inn in Columbia, I’m the Director of Parks Recreation and Tourism now, you can make that career path if you apply yourself to it,” Parrish said.

Tourism is one of the state's largest industries and means an estimated $14 billion a year for the South Carolina economy.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)