Small Town News

Tourism upswing good news for all of us

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PUBLISHER'S NOTEBOOK

The good news about tourism along the Grand Strand feels as refreshing as a later summer breeze coming off the ocean.

After nearly two years of depress-ingly bad news about the economy, locals can rejoice over one of the best summers ever.

Hotels, campgrounds and other resort properties have reported record occupancy rates for the summer of 2010. Popular restaurants are reporting two-hour waits for customers. Likewise, entertainment venues like Medieval Times tell us attendance has been excellent.

All of this signals good things ahead, not only for the beach, but for all of Horry County and the state. Tourism remains the economic engine for our part of the state and it seems to be purring along on all eight cylinders.

Revenue generated by the Myrtle Beach tourism tax is not just trick linling in, it's flowing in at a rate 11 percent higher than almost anyone expected.

Recently, the Myrtle Beach International Airport reported a 36 percent increase in passengers traffic. And, if that's not enough to put a smile on the face of any hotel owner, take a look at what's happening on Ocean Boulevard. When the Pavillion was torn down a few years ago, many businesses suffered terribly.

A beautiful new boardwalk has helped turn things around by giving folks a better reason to spend time in the old Pavillion section of the beach. The extra traffic has brought new life to the Ocean Boulevard.

It would be shortsighted to attribute the upswing in tourism to fate. Yes, the oil spill along the Gulf coast probably influenced some visitors to vacation here. And, pent up demand probably helped make this a banner summer.

If I had to put my finger on what made 2010 such a good tourism season, I would point to the marketing efforts of the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and the wisdom of Myrtle Beach City Council.

Frankly, I was concerned when Myrde Beach council okayed a one-percent tourism tax in 2009 without taking the issue to the voters first.

In retrospect, council's decision paid off handsomely. The new tax provides millions of dollars, which the Myrtle Beach Chamber used to promote the Grand Strand as a tourism destination that offers a great vacation experience at a fami1-;! ly-friendly price.

There's a saying we like to use with our customers: "If you adver-tise it, they will come!" (A take off on the Field of Dreams catch line, if yoU haven't already noticed.)

The success in attracting new cus-' tomers confirms what marketing experts have been preaching for years. Advertising does produce results. It works on the local level just as well as it does in larger mar-J kets. 'B

Hopefully, the good news coming from the coast will translate into better days for other segments of the economy, too. If higher tourism' traffic can kick start the local real estate market, for example, thousands of locals will be able to breath' a bit easier. v

We congratulate the Myrtle Beach Chamber and President Brad Dean '" for helping turn things around.



Copyright 2010 The Horry Independent, Conway, South Carolina. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Horry Independent Conway, South Carolina. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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