Episode 10: South Carolina’s Tourism and Hospitality

In the latest episode, Director Floyd sits down with Duane Parrish, Director of South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism (PRT), for an in-depth conversation about one of the state’s strongest and most dynamic industries: hospitality and tourism. Parrish reflects on how his very first job at a Columbia hotel sparked a lifelong passion for the field and explains how the tourism industry today supports more than 240,000 jobs and contributes over $30 billion to South Carolina’s economy. He emphasizes the importance of early work experiences, noting how internships and entry-level jobs help young people develop essential soft skills, confidence, and direction. Parrish also discusses statewide awareness efforts such as Find Your Future, which helps jobseekers explore career pathways and connect with opportunities across hotels, restaurants, film production, attractions, state parks, aquariums, and outdoor recreation. His message is clear: tourism offers diverse and fulfilling careers for individuals with the drive to grow and the passion to serve. Subscribe to The Works podcast via BuzzSprout or Find Your Future social media accounts to be the first to hear about new episodes! Learn more about each topic on findyourfuture.sc.gov, and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services through the BuzzSprout RSS feed.