South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

South Carolina is blessed with an abundance of natural and man-made gifts – historic cities that attract visitors from all over the world, pristine beaches that stretch for hundreds of miles, small towns that offer a unique glimpse into days gone by, blackwater rivers for a peaceful day of kayaking or canoeing, and spectacular golf courses that wow the avid amateur and challenge the best touring pros. Those gifts and more helped fuel a seasonal business called tourism and turned it into a powerhouse that now ranks as the state’s number one industry. No one could have predicted such a rosy future when the General Assembly created the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism in 1967. Legislators assigned the agency three very specific tasks: - To help foster and promote the state’s emerging tourism industry, - To protect and promote South Carolina state parks, and - To help communities plan and develop recreational opportunities for local residents. To access Section 51-1-10 of the SC Code of Laws which established SCPRT as an agency, click here. Our Mission Growing South Carolina’s economy by fostering sustainable tourism economic development and effectively marketing our state to increase visitation and improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians. Our Goals 1. Heads in Beds 2. Feet on Fairways 3. People in Parks