Beach Destinations Face Hot Competition from Wider Post-Pandemic Tourist Growth
Photo Credit: Beach destinations are operating in a more competitive tourism environment. Unsplash / Zany Jadraque
Skift Take
Beach destinations can't rely on the outdoor attributes that made them so attractive to the domestic market during the pandemic now that international travel is fully open and fear of cities has evaporated.
Beach destinations are heading into the summer under a more competitive tourism environment under which their pandemic-powered visitation growth rates are likely to soften thanks to cities and international travel fully back in the traveler choice mix.
During the pandemic, rural, beach and other outdoor-centered destinations hit record visitation from people escaping cities, as captured in a 2022 Skift megatrend. These destinations saw explosive growth rates in 2021 and 2022. In Florida, Panama City Beach’s lodging tax revenue jumped by 50 percent from $23 million in 2018 to $36 million in 2021, said Dan Rowe, president and CEO of Visit Panama City Beach. For Myrtle Beach, 2021 was the strongest year they've "ever had in the history of tourism to Myrtle Beach," South Carolina, said Karen Riordan, president and CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach.
Beaches were especially coveted for their warmer temperatures, fresh air
