Charleston, SC | Breaking News, Sports, WeatherNumbers show growth in SC tourism

Numbers show growth in SC tourism

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Tourism has been on the rise in South Carolina within the past couple years. In 2010 it grew 7.6 percent to $15 billion and according to Duane Parrish, Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, that number is only predicted to get bigger in 2011.

Parrish announced the figures Tuesday in front of tourism industry leaders at the annual Governor's Conference on Tourism and Travel which was held at the Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort and Conference Center.

Parrish said the reason South Carolina is seeing more tourists is due to a private sector that offers award-winning destinations and innovative partnerships that attract travelers in increasing numbers. For example, he said, Charleston was named the number one travel destination by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

During his speech Tuesday, Parrish told his audience the drive of the success is the hard work habits that those in the tourism industry portray.

"When you look at the recognition our state's destinations have received just in the last year, it's pretty evident that all of that hard work is paying off and that we're not the only ones who know how great South Carolina is as a travel destination," Parrish said.

Parrish said that with a strong and active industry and with a service-focused SCPRT, the state agency he now directs, South Carolina will move closer toward its goal of more "heads in beds, feet on fairways and people in parks."

Three goals Parrish set for 2011 are already accomplished:

Re-opening the state's nine welcome centers to seven days a week to create more traffic and make it more convenient for tourists. Budget cuts had forced them to close two days a week in previous years. Partnerships with the Pee Dee Tourism Commission and the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau help cover costs and restore full service to travelers. The welcome centers now sell advertising space to generate more revenue.

The Heritage Golf Tournament at Hilton Head, which produces an $82 million impact on the state's economy, acquired two sponsors. Parrish and Governor Nikki R. Haley promoted the investment and landed a five-year commitment from Bank of Canada as title sponsor and from Boeing as supplemental title sponsor.

Parrish visited all 47 parks in 2011 and noted opportunities that will help maximize the parks' full potential:

• Keep state parks within SCPRT to take advantage of marketing and promotional assets

• Work toward 100 percent self-sufficiency by 2013

• Seek alternative funds to address deferred maintenance needs

• Explore the possibility of revenue bonds to develop revenue-producing capital projects in the parks

Parrish ended his speech by stating that SCPRT has an overall goal of growing tourism.