South Carolina’s visitors will now be greeted by smiling faces seven days a week, as the busy tourism season gets into full swing.
The state’s nine welcome centers resumed a daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule after they were closed two days a week since January because of budget cuts.
The centers are located along the state’s busiest highways just past the border.
Employees help guests figure out where they want to go, how to get there, and where they’ll stay once they arrive.
With an abundance of brochures, coupons, maps, event information and connections to South Carolina hotels, the welcome Centers serve as vacation concierges to those unfamiliar with the Palmetto State.
Maceo Lofton was en route from Atlanta to visit family in Augusta, Ga., for the July Fourth holiday when he missed an exit and ended up at the I-20 Welcome Center. He said the service he got helped him act on a whim to see the coast.
“I didn’t really have a plan when I was headed out this morning. I was headed to Augusta but I wanted to visit a beach, and the lady here at the welcome center helped me out and gave me three different beaches to choose from,” Lofton said. “Beaufort will probably be the beach we’ll go to. So we’ll get in some water, enjoy the beach, have a nice Fourth.”
Along with extended hours, welcome centers now offer free wireless to anyone who asks for the password.
South Carolina’s tourism industry earns the state about $18.4 billion each year.
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