Share

VisitGreenvilleSC, Visit Myrtle Beach, and Destination North Myrtle Beach are the first certified Front Porch partners

Columbia, S.C. – To more effectively collaborate with visitor centers and destination marketing organizations all over the state, the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) has launched the Front Porch Program.

Program participants gain new opportunities to connect with millions of visitors in SCPRT’s busy South Carolina Welcome Centers and are provided special access to valuable training programs led by SCPRT’s award-winning team of travel professionals.

“Tourism is a powerful economic driver in South Carolina, and our agency works to advance our estimated $29 billion industry by putting heads in beds, people in parks, and feet on fairways,” said SCPRT director, Duane Parrish. “From our popular destinations to our undiscovered gems, nearly every city and town in the state has some sort of visitor center to welcome tourists. The Front Porch Program aims to better connect with those entities to help us help them. When we have the chance to work directly with local partners, we can help share their stories with our larger audiences, drawing more tourist and tourism dollars to every corner of the state.”

With this official launch announcement, SCPRT is pleased to celebrate the program’s first three certified Front Porch Program participants: VisitGreenvilleSC, Visit Myrtle Beach, and Destination North Myrtle Beach.

Participants must meet specific eligibility requirements, including offering a consistent visitor experience to every guest at their facility, maintaining regular business hours, and offering public restrooms. To be eligible, centers must be owned and operated by a public, non-profit, or destination marketing organization.

Certified Front Porch Program members are promoted in South Carolina’s nine Welcome Centers located along the state’s border and on I-95 near Orangeburg. SCPRT’s Welcome Centers assist more than four million guests annually, providing information about every corner of the state to help visitors make the most of their South Carolina vacation.

Through their participation, Front Porch Program partners share information, promote special events, and provide SCPRT with up-to-date information about their destinations. This allows the SCPRT’s Welcome Centers to share the latest and greatest information available about our destinations, which increases visitation to those areas and improves visitor experience upon arrival. Members receive an official window cling and certificate to promote their participation in the program and receive bulk copies of state maps and the Discover South Carolina Vacation Guide. Front Porch Program members also receive access to special training and events hosted by SCPRT’s expert travel staff.
Eligible entities can learn more about the Front Porch Program at scprt.com/tourism/front-porch-program.

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is a cabinet agency assigned to operate and manage South Carolina's state parks, market the state as a preferred vacation destination, and provide assistance to communities to develop recreation assets. Explore all of the great golf, rich history, sandy beaches, and family attractions a South Carolina vacation has to offer at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com.

QUOTES:
“The South Carolina Welcome Center’s Front Porch Program offers our destination an opportunity to collaborate and contribute to the overall success and growth of the tourism industry. Our role within this program aligns with our mission to maximize Greenville’s Visitor Economy by developing and promoting exceptional visitor experiences to elevate the quality of life and prosperity for our community.” – Michelle Guevara, Director of Destination Experiences, VisitGreenvilleSC

“Visit Myrtle Beach is delighted to take part in the new Front Porch Program and to become a certified South Carolina Welcome Center. Through this affiliation, we will bolster our commitment to provide visitors with comprehensive insights not only about The Beach, but the entire Palmetto State. Visitors have been coming to the Grand Strand for generations and with this, we are adding yet another way to make their experience more enjoyable and memorable.” – Karen Riordan, President and CEO, Visit Myrtle Beach

“Destination North Myrtle Beach is excited to participate in the Front Porch Program and partner with the South Carolina Welcome Centers to help our Visitor Information Center gain more visibility as well as align with the state to offer our visitors a warm welcome to NMB. We look forward to working closely with our local Little River Welcome Center to enhance the visitor experience when arriving in our destination.” – Erin Graham, Marketing Director, Destination North Myrtle Beach

###

VisitGreenvilleSC

Visit Myrtle Beach

Destination North Myrtle Beach