Will the Escalating Gas Prices Help or Hurt Myrtle Beach Tourism? (to rent, condo)

[canudigit]

I have been reading in the newspaper and hearing on the news that gas prices in the U.S. are expected to rise precipitously over the next year or two, to the tune of $5+/gallon. I don't know if I believe that it will go that high (I hope not, anyway!), but if it does go back up to the $4+/gallon range that we saw back in the summer of 2008, how do you think it will affect tourism in MB?

On the surface, it would seem that it would be a terrible thing for MB, since one of the things that makes MB so enticing is that it is both affordable and drivable for most people in the eastern U.S. and if gas prices spike again then they may choose to either stay home or find vacation spots closer to home. However, I was reading a book about the history of the Grand Strand area recently and one thing that jumped out at me was the statement that one of the reasons why MB grew so exponentially during the 1970s, in spite of the oil embargos and resulting high gas prices and lines at the gas stations, was because people from the northeast who had always traveled to Florida for their vacations decided that they still wanted a beach vacation in the south but that MB would be fine, since it was several hundred fewer miles to drive. Also, don't forget that when oil prices go up, the price increases are reflected in all types of travel, including air travel, so not only would airline ticket prices go up accordingly, but a person would still have to rent a car and buy gas for it anyway. Under those circumstances, driving to MB would still be a relative bargain, right?

So...what do you think? Help or hurt? I can see both sides of the coin. It wouldn't stop us from traveling to SC, we would just scale back a bit in other areas, such as cooking in our condo's kitchen more often as opposed to eating out, which I guess, if you think about it, would still have a negative effect on tourism due to its effect on the restaurants' bottom lines if other people did the same.

[Teddyterp]

Usually, higher gas prices helps the tourism in Myrtle Beach. People who would otherwise drive long distances (or fly) will chose to stay closer to home. 40% of the nation's population is within a one day drive to MB.

[Made_it_To_the_Metroplex]

I would say "hurt", but that would apply to ANY place where higher fuel costs take $$ from other things consumers would spend it on (which is EVERYWHERE).

[neecewh]

Interesting question canudigit. I sure hope it does not affect tourism negatively. Here is an article from the Sun News that does make brief mention re: gas prices and tourism for 2011.

Solid recovery seen for Carolinas tourism in '11 - Financial & Business - Wire - TheSunNews.com (http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/01/17/1925911/solid-recovery-for-carolinas-tourism.html - broken link)

[canudigit]

Nice article, thanks for posting the link! It's good to know that things are looking up.

[rrufast]

The prices jumps in 2008 didn't appear to hurt tourism in the area. One thing that I recall reading, and thought myself, is that it would have been very difficult to determine whether it was the fuel prices or the general decline in the economy that kept people from traveling as much, or as far.

Myrtle Beach is still, especially given today's economy, a very reasonable place to vacation. There is a PLETHORA of things to do, unlike many other beach towns which is one of the most attractive aspects of Myrtle Beach.

Overall, I'd have to say NO, the rise in fuel prices will not hurt our local area UNLESS they rise above the $5.00 per gallon mark... Then it becomes a concern, but on a greater scale.