By Michael Baginski/ Bob Harris says there’s so much more to Myrtle beach than golf. After all, Canadians who told him so. The executive VP of group sales for Visit Myrtle Beach said his own misconception that Canadians mainly admire the South Carolina destination for its world class golf (mini and masters) was quickly corrected by in-the-know visitors from north of the border.
“I love going to Canadian trade shows and meeting with Canadian consumers that tell me things about Myrtle Beach that I still don’t know,” he told Travel Industry Today. “They literally are the experts.”
Indeed, he says, “We always think of Canadians visiting from the Fall – we get a lot of golfers and couples that come to advantage of the warm water that stay with us until we get to December… but I was pleasantly surprised to see how many Canadian visitations we get throughout the year.”
He recalled, “(When) I moved to Myrtle Beach, I was unloading into the condo I was living in temporarily and I was surrounded by Canadians, and so I started talking to them and my misconception was they all came to Myrtle Beach to play golf for five months. But I didn’t see the golf clubs coming out of their cars for some of these people and I asked, ‘What is it that’s drawing you to Myrtle Beach? You’re obviously big golfers, but they’re like, ‘No, never played the game.’ And I said, well what is it and they said it’s just a lifestyle!
“You know, they like the weather – obviously that’s a huge part of it, they want to stay in a place that’s warmer. Canadians have been welcome in Myrtle Beach for over 65 years now and actually longer than that, that’s just when we started the CanAm Days promotion (in March), but that’s been a really big part of our community.
“I know they’re visitors, but to us sometimes Canadians really don’t feel like they’re visitors. It’s part of who we are. It’s rare to meet someone who’s actually from Myrtle Beach. So, we’re all kind of visitors in our way and Canadians may not stay as long, but it’s an important part of who and what we are.”
While Harris acknowledges that fewer Canadians currently visiting than usual, the destination still saw healthy number of motorcoach tours in the spring, as well as families – the latter a long-time mainstay of the Canadian traveller profile.
Multi-gen
“The biggest thing we’ve seen in the last few years has been growth in multi-generational Canadian visitations,” says Harris. “Where we used to see a lot of 55-plus couples coming in, its shifted somewhat after the pandemic. People were bringing their children and their grandchildren… and that’s a trend we’re seeing continue.”
The trend reflects Canadians long affinity with the destination – from its status as the closest “sun destination” to drive to during Spring school breaks, to repeat visitors that in some cases have returned annually for years or even decades.
“I think Canadians for a long time are looking for a place where they feel very welcome, where they know the destination, and they know what to expect,” says Harris.
And that includes not being a stereotypical “college spring break town,” like some other destinations in the South, rather place that caters to families.
He notes that the Grand Strand region, which stretches from Little River to Pawleys Island and comprises 14 distinct cities along the South Carolina coast, along with 100 km. of wide, sandy beaches, is easy to get to, and around, by car, as well as by air (“we don’t have direct flights from Canada, but we hope to have some good news on that for 2026,” he teases).
But at the same time, he notes, “We don’t have an interstate (highway) in Myrtle Beach, we don’t have traffic jams…”
Laid-back lifestyle
Myrtle Beach, in sum, Harris says is “not difficult”
“We live in a world where now where everything has become so complicated. We’re hit with so much media and so much information and planning and working is just so difficult. And Myrtle Beach is just so easy, and it’s easy for Canadians too.
“You just come in and open up the drapes at 6 a.m. and see the sunrise, and you don’t have to do a lot else. It is just a very laid-back lifestyle… You can do high-energy if you want, but the relaxing has a lot to do with it. Eco-tourism is exploding, and we really do care for our beaches.”
However, with some Canadians still casting a wary eye south of the border these days, Harris says Visit Myrtle Beach has rededicated itself to showing that visitors from this country are as welcome as ever, including meeting coaches personally when they arrive to express greetings and welcome.
“You hear about southern hospitality – it’s a very authentic thing in our area. It’s not a forced thing. People really genuinely care. It’s not something we’re taught to do, it’s something we want to do.”
As for Canada – now – he adds, “Our team at Pulse (Canada) is working harder than ever to reach out to the Canadian trade and consumer” with updates on the destination’s ongoing activities and especially great value for Canadians through a long list of dedicated incentives and promotions, from discounted accommodation to golf.
But mostly that “Our doors are always welcoming. And we’ll get through this (political turmoil) together. We’re confident of that!”
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