The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the Coastal Carolina University Center for Resort Tourism gave presentations and updates on how the one penny tourism tax is doing for our area Tuesday to the Myrtle Beach City Council.
The tax is basically a penny on every dollar spent in most City of Myrtle Beach businesses. The revenue collected from the tax goes toward advertising Myrtle Beach in other states to bring tourists to our area.
Myrtle Beach began collecting the penny tax in August of 2009.
The study showed the number of people coming to Myrtle Beach is steadily increasing.
The tax has paid for several t.v. commercials and internet ads.
Advertisement referrals were up ten percent from last year according to the study.
Myrtle Beach area Chamber of Commerce CEO, Brad Dean, says these advertisements are just the beginning and they're looking to expand exposure of the Grand Strand to other areas of the world.
"We are currently advertising right now at about 75 markets, mostly in the eastern United States and Canada. However, we're also promoting online in a number of other markets and beginning to increase promotion in Europe. We think the Myrtle Beach average employment is up three percent and is well positioned to grow nationally and internationally." says Dean.
Coastal Carolina University's Taylor Demonte says there has been a 1.1 percent increase in occupancy in Myrtle Beach within the past year.
However, the majority of those occupants are in condos.
The study also reported that one out of three people were first time visitors to Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach city council saw today that Myrtle Beach revenue gain is up ten percent this year. That is higher than the average for our nation, state, and all other competitors.
