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Date	ArticleType
5/5/2009
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber Salutes Visitors During National Travel & Tourism Week May 9-17
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is joining hundreds of cities, states and businesses nationwide in the annual salute to travel and tourism in America. The MBACC is celebrating the 26th annual National Travel and Tourism Week May 9-17 with activities and promotions for those visiting the Grand Strand. Last year, nearly 14 million tourists visited the area, spending more than $4 billion. “I think this year’s ‘Travel Matters’ theme really hits home with the recession,” said Brant Branham MBACC board chairman and consultant with E. F. Hucks & Associates Inc. “Travel fuels America’s economy, and tourism is the Myrtle Beach area’s No. 1 industry. This year more than ever, we hope our visitors continue to reconnect with their friends and loved ones and travel to America’s top beach and family destination.” As in past years, the chamber’s welcome centers in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet will serve complimentary refreshments during National Travel and Tourism Week. Airport welcome center visitors will be serenaded by live music periodically throughout the week. MBACC members will receive “Thank You for Visiting” static cling decals to place on business or vehicle windows. In the media, a “Tourism Works for Us” ad touting the benefits of tourism will appear in local newspapers, and a public service announcement will air on WBTW News 13, WMBF News and WPDE News Channel 15. Leadership Grand Strand Class XXV has provided a billboard on U.S. 501 thanking visitors. National Travel and Tourism Week was established as National Tourism Week in 1983 when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating the week to be celebrated in May 1984. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a presidential proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with “the appropriate ceremonies and activities.” By January 1986, industry leaders had formed a permanent full-time office at the U.S. Travel Association to sponsor the event and expand tourism awareness into year-round programs. 2009 National Travel and Tourism Week Facts Source: U.S. Travel Association • Travel and tourism is a $1.7 trillion industry in the United States. If one dollar bill equaled a second of time, then $1.7 trillion would equal more than 54,000 years. • Travel and tourism generates $115 billion in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments. 115 billion one dollar bills placed end-to-end would circle the world 438 times. • Travel and tourism industry is one of the country’s largest employers with 7.7 million direct travel-generated jobs with a payroll totaling $189 billion. • Driving accounts for 87 percent of travel in the United States. South Carolina Tourism Facts Source: S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism • Domestic travelers spend more than $9.7 billion in South Carolina annually. • Approximately 30 million visitors enjoy the Palmetto state each year (including more than 850,000 Canadians and approximately 80,000 overseas visitors). Horry County Tourism Facts • The total impact of visitor spending on the Grand Strand economy is roughly $5.8 billion annually (source: Coastal Carolina University, BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development, 2008). • 68 percent of county employment is tourism related (source: S.C. Employment Security Commission, 2008) • 86 percent of visitors to the Grand Strand drive their cars (source: Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce In-Market Visitor Profile, 2008) • Approximately 3.4 million rounds of golf are played annually on the Grand Strand’s 102 golf courses (source: Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, 2008) • More than 1.56 million passengers arrived and departed from Myrtle Beach International Airport (source: Myrtle Beach International Airport, 2008) 2008 Horry County Tax Collections Source: Coastal Carolina University, BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development • $15.10 million: 2 percent accommodations tax collections in Horry County (down 1.84 percent from 2007) • $9.94 million: 5 percent admissions tax collections in Horry County including a reported $490,459 paid by Hard Rock Park (up 2.70 percent from 2007) • $8.59 billion: Gross retail sales in Horry County (down 7.22 percent from 2007) • $5.36 billion: Net taxable sales in Horry County (down 15.84 percent from 2007) • $29.87 million: 1.5 percent RIDE hospitality fee collections for Horry County, RIDE I projects (up 3.59 percent from 2007) • $6.39 million: 1 percent hospitality fee collections from unincorporated Horry County (down 1.24 percent from 2007) For a National Travel and Tourism Week logo and updated industry facts and figures, visit USTravel.org.