COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Tourism is a key to South Carolina's economy, but the state will no longer welcome visitors on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Parks Recreation and Tourism Department spokesman Marion Edmonds
says the agency will close welcome centers on interstate highways
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting next week.

Edmonds says those are the quietest days of the week and it is the quietest time of the year.

The State newspaper reported Tuesday that PRT laid off about 40
temporary workers at welcome centers last month. Edmonds says it's
hard to staff the centers every day without those workers.

Travelers will have access to restrooms, snack machines and picnic tables. But they won't be able to get brochures, maps and travel advice.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)