Gov. McMaster urges conservation preservation as SC tourism climbs

FILE – Republican Gov. Henry McMaster addresses business leaders on Aug. 18, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. McMaster is seeking reelection and will face Democrat Joe Cunningham and Libertarian Bruce Morgan Reeves in the Nov. 8 election. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File)

(WPDE) — The Palmetto State is seeing an increase in tourism, with officials reporting a $1 million jump bringing the economic impact to $31 billion.

South Carolina’s Parks and Recreation Director said they saw a record-breaking six billion in hotel and vacation rentals for 2025.

However, tourism isn’t necessarily up for the Grand Strand, as just last week officials reported a 3% decline in occupancy.

CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach said the lack of international travel and the economy are the biggest factors.

“When things are up, we don’t hear a lot, right? We get a few pats on the back, but when things are going on in our economy and things are not as good, I mean, our small businesses, our mom and pops, everybody feels that pain and we feel that pain as well,” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach.

Local businesses said they’re definitely feeling it.

“It’s not just us, there’s something going on and that impacts us because if we don’t have the tourists, the visitors that are here frequenting our shop like they do previous years, it causes us to have to think outside of the box to be able to retain that profitability,” said Rebecca Myers, Monkey Lala owner.

Governor Henry McMaster references the fact that many tourists come to the state for the natural resources.

He noted the need for more conservation preservation to coincide with the uptick in development, saying there’s projects in the works here at the beach.

“We want to be sure not to grow too fast. You make any mistakes in doing so. But if we are careful and think ahead, plan ahead and have good leadership and people that are willing to get out and get to work and understand it, they own this. You ain’t renting it, you own it and so we’ve got it all. Take care of it and we’ll have tourism,” said Gov. McMaster.