Tourism Web sites trying to lure vacationers

Whether its foodies or families or golfers, the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism developed a slew of Web sites designed to lasso a variety of vacationers.

SavorSouthCarolina.com introduces visitors to top chefs from across the state, gives a plug to festivals and events and explains local fare such as benne wafers and frogmore stew.

SouthCarolinaGolf.com offers a course finder, tournament listings, even average weather conditions each month for all golfing areas of the state.

PRT spokesman Marion Edmonds said the most popular, though, is SouthCarolinaParks.com, which bears a campy feel. Edmonds said that site's traffic has grown more than 10 percent this year while other sites and those of sister states remained largely stagnant.

"One-stop shopping at the park site made it a site people are going to use to plan," Edmonds said. "Clearly at this particular time in the economic environment, people are coming back to what they see as a real value recreation opportunity."

Edmonds said South Carolina was the second state in the country to develop a tourism Web site way back in the '90s with a primitive page. He said the agency developed its specialty sites years ago but recently created "splash pages" geared particularly toward the Atlanta market, where the agency focused its current advertising.

Beyond the standalone sites and splash pages, PRT maintains a host of subsites through its primary Web page, DiscoverSouthCarolina.com.

CarolinaGirls.travel targets the "girlfriend getaways" crowd, asking "Which shoes do you want to pack?" and linking to local attractions based on whether the user selects the boots or the ballet shoes. SouthCarolinaBeaches.travel breaks down the state's sandy coast by region.

Each of PRT's pages target female visitors, according to Edmonds. Even the golf site includes a prominent "women's golf" tab.

"Research shows the majority of travel decisions for a couple or a family are made by women," Edmonds said. "You'll see it reflected in our choice of magazines, the choice of media. You'll see it reflected in our choice of messages."

That's what drove PRT to launch its most recent standalone site focused on the state's culinary achievements. But for now, PRT plans to stick with what it already has as it stretches to reach specific tourists.

"We don't have any plans to increase the number or add any new products at this time," Edmonds said. "That's driven by the budget."

On tour

Patrick Properties LLC, owners of the William Aiken House, Lowndes Grove, the American Theater and Fish restaurant, now can add tours to its repertoire. The company plans to bring private groups of 15 people or more through the properties and onto lunch or dinner with prices starting at $25 per person. General managers Ashley Gunnin at Lowndes Grove and Kristen Rowe at the William Aiken House and the American Theater will lead the tours geared toward business functions.

"We've been trying to tie the properties closer together," said Jenny Badman, Patrick Properties' marketing and public relations manager. "It's a good way for people to see us as a family of properties."

Reach Allyson Bird at 937-5594 or abird@postand courier.com.