In his first visit to the Grand Strand since becoming South Carolina's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director, Duane Parrish spoke to members of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce about tax dollars and tourism.
Duane Parrish met with members of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday afternoon. Earlier that day, Parrish was presented with a big fake cardboard check for $351 million by Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, Surfside Beach Mayor Allen Deaton, and Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President Brad Dean.
"The Grand Strand is state's cash cow. We generate tens of millions of dollars. Some of us look at that and think we'd like to see some of that here," Dean said.
Dean says the check is to remind the state leaders of how much money the Grand Strand generates in tourism tax money each year that is given to the state. More money local leaders say, should come back here to fund projects and the economy in the Myrtle Beach area, instead of other cities across the state.
"I don't think Myrtle Beach is getting gypped when taxes are significantly less than they were three to four years ago. It's easy to feel being gypped. As I mentioned earlier, the pie has shrunk," Parrish said.
Parrish says he thinks that that pie is now getting bigger. He adds in terms of a economic rebound, Myrtle Beach is in front of the curve ,so more money should get split up across the state.
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce says nearly 14 million visitors head to the beach each year, spending between $108 and $183 a day.
For years, the Grand Strand has competed with Charleston for money from Columbia. The Charleston Visitors Bureau says about four million tourists visit there annually. The average tourist there spends $116 a day.
