Tourism Sustains Local Jobs and Enhances Community Well-Being
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) and Visit Myrtle Beach are pleased to announce Myrtle Beach is receiving recognition from several leading travel authorities that praise the region as a top place to visit and meet this summer. Adding to these recent accolades are positive tourism numbers, despite economic headwinds, that support local jobs and enhance resident quality of life.
- Tripadvisor’s 2025 Summer Travel Index ranks Myrtle Beach as the top U.S. beach destination for summer travel and the No. 3 overall U.S. city to visit behind Las Vegas and New York City. Plus, the index places the Myrtle Beach State Park as the third most popular U.S. travel experience for Americans.
- USA TODAY 10Best also places Myrtle Beach State Park and five additional Grand Strand locales on its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards list for Best Beaches in South Carolina. Taking the top five spots are Pawleys Island, North Myrtle Beach, Litchfield Beach, Huntington Beach State Park and Cherry Grove Beach.
- Meetings Today, a magazine for meeting planners and groups, placed Myrtle Beach on its May cover for the article, “Beachfront Benefits,” which highlights how hosting an event in Myrtle Beach “automatically boosts attendance.”
These recognitions build upon the steady progress seen this spring as well as throughout 2024 where the region experienced notable growth in key tourism metrics such as visitor spending in Horry County, which rose more than five percent to reach $13.2 billion and gross retail sales, which grew to $16.6 billion, according to the CVB’s 2024 Annual Report.
Looking toward the peak summer season, early predictive models suggest stable, year-over-year hotel occupancy levels June through August, though final results will depend on a range of market factors, including fuel prices and broader economic sentiment.
“While it’s still early, the data suggests Myrtle Beach remains well positioned heading into summer,” said Stuart Butler, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Myrtle Beach. “We’re encouraged by the indicators but remain realistic given the economic environment. With national travel demand rebounding and Myrtle Beach once again ranking among the country’s top vacation spots, we’re relatively pleased by what we’re seeing so far.”
Myrtle Beach continues to outperform comparable tourism destinations, demonstrating resiliency rooted in its core strengths as an accessible, drive-to market that delivers exceptional value and enduring family appeal, Butler added, further noting that destinations nationwide are navigating an evolving landscape shaped by evolving traveler behaviors, economic pressures and competitive dynamics.
“Business performance isn’t uniform across all sectors or property types,” he explained. “Some businesses are still facing challenges tied to shifting traveler preferences, pricing sensitivity and broader economic conditions. That said, we’re cautiously optimistic and adjusting our strategies in real time to maintain local economic stability, support the workforce and protect vital community funding.”
For Myrtle Beach area residents, the tourism industry matters. Funding from visitors provides critical resources for enhancing local communities and quality of life, supporting jobs and investments into infrastructure, public services and safety, all while keeping taxes low. Notably, Visa reports that 66 percent of all Horry County sales tax revenue is supplied by visitors. An expanded look at the benefits of tourism can be found at TourismWorksfortheGrandStrand.com.
