Page 18 Supplement to The Brunswick E
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UNSPOILED NATURAI
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BY MARJORIE MEGIVERN
At this time of year we don't find it
hard to believe the recent disclosure
that Brunswick County's number one
industry is tourism.
Our beaches, piers and highways
are full; restaurants and shops proliferate;
the ring of cash registers
and the pleasant hum of vacationing
customers are music to our ears.
Susanne Sartelle, executive director
of the South Brunswick Islands
Chamber of Commerce, said revenue
from travel and tourism exceeded
$134 million last year. Undoubtedly
we'll top that figure in 1988, as graphs
have shown a consistent upward
climb for this industry, 10.9 percent
in 1987. Others, like agriculture and
manufacturing, have remained
stable or declined.
"Our area offers a nice vacation
alternative if you don't want extreme
commercialism," Sartelle explained.
Her office broadcasts the lure of
wide smiles, wide beaches and wide
leacon. July-August. 1988
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ear It For'
fairways" as supreme attractions of he
the South Brunswick Islands. o\
While unspoiled natural beaches pi
and genuine southern hospitality are u[
important components, Sartelle fo
believes our numerous first class golf
courses have been instrumental in tr
selling the area to visitors. B
"MalinnurlJs 1 -?
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golfers has grown by 24 percent in the a'
last two years," she said, "and the ai
number of new golfers is growing at c(
more than three times the rate of new si
golf course construction. Golf is a $20
billion a year industry now, but by d;
the year 2000 that figure will double." vi
There are now 12 different county fr
golf facilities, with one of these, the si
Pearl near Ocean Isle Beach, having Ci
iwo uuui ses. At icasi inree oiners are nt
in the planning or construction stage, til
This facet of Brunswick County ar
tourism is getting national and international
attention. Sartelle said a Bi
Scottish writer for the magazine to
"Executive Golf" was recently cc
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ility arc important components that
Tourists
isted by an Ocean Isle Beach motel
vner, and the result was an eighttge
illustrated feature in the slick,
>scale publication that goes to 29
reign countries.
Such publicity points out, not only
le beauty and challenge of
runswick golf courses, but the
lually beautiful accomodations
/ailable to visitors. Motels, villas
id rental property ranging from
)ttages to luxury waterfront manons,
rival any resort on the coast.
Historical attractions are abunmt,
too, and the brochures and
icationer's guidebooks emanating
om the chamber call attention to
ich sites as Brunswicktown, Fort
sswell, Orton Plantation, and, in
!ighboring New Hanover County,
e U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship
id Fort Fisher Museum.
If all this has helped make
runswick County number 12 in
urism among North Carolina's 100
lunties, there is still the need for
-,^ai
hHBH
help make tourism Brunswick County
: You're
constant promotion. That's where
chambers of commerce shine.
The South Brunswick Islands and
Southport-Oak Islan^chamher^
often work in collaboration, as in
preparation of brochures and the expensive
magazine advertising,
Sartelle said.
[ J Bio Guard
Pool and Spa Prod
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s number one industry.
No.!!'
However, the South Brunswick
Islands office is in the unique position
of serving as a welcome center to
North Carolina. Positioned just 20
miles from the South Carolina line, it
is the only place on this side of that
line where travelers on U.S. 17 can
(Sec LET'S HEAR IT, Page 20)
- 198a THE BRUNSWICK BEACON
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