MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) -Two weeks ago News13 told you about a blog causing controversy over the cleanliness of ocean water in Myrtle Beach.
DHEC officials tested the water and results showed bacteria in the water are actually well below harmful levels. Now, city leaders plan to spend thousands of dollars to be sure everyone in the nation knows that.
Brad Dean with the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce says they’ve already spent $30,000 on a new advertising campaign locally, regionally, and nationally, and they plan to spend more.
“We’ve had visitors all the way from Canada as well as right here in South Carolina, hundreds if not thousands calling wanting to know if the water is safe,” said Dean.
That’s because of a recent blog about bacteria in the water and no swim advisories.
“One obscure blog filled with erroneous information is causing a terrible disruption to our economy,” said Dean.
Janice Carter is visiting Myrtle Beach from Canada. She says she read about water quality, but that didn’t stop her from coming.
:I read where it was, and I thought people are known to blow things out of proportion, and that’s exactly what I thought when I read it in the paper,” said Carter.
The city ordered special tests from DHEC to prove the blog wrong and spent $30,000 on the new advertisement to play all across the nation telling people the beaches are safe.
“We’re going to spend as much money as we have to spend to get this message in as many people’s TV sets as we can,” said Dean.
But, who pays for it?
“The taxpayers pay for the tests that had accurate information and the taxpayers will now be helping pay for promotion to keep people coming here,” said Dean.
“I would say to them don’t even think about it. Just come down. We were in the water yesterday, and it’s gorgeous down here. Just come,” said Carter.
According to statistics from Coastal Carolina University’s weekly tourism study, research shows occupancy rates are actually up in hotels and condos in the Grand Strand compared to this time last year.
