Charleston, South Carolina, and Myrtle Beach are two of the most stressed cities by tourism in the United States, according to a recent survey by mental health provider AMFM and data analytics firm Cherry Data Signals. This finding highlights the complex relationship between tourism and local well-being, as the influx of visitors brings both economic benefits and significant challenges for residents.
The survey, which surveyed residents of transitional tourist towns across the U.S., revealed that more than 6 in 10 residents feel crowded out of their own town at least sometimes during peak season, while 46% said they have felt burned out by living somewhere other people visit for vacation. This emotional cost is a significant concern, as it can affect people’s stress levels, mood, and sense of control over their own community.
In Charleston, the attention of visitors can feel intrusive, overlapping with crowded sidewalks, tour routes, short-term rentals, and packed downtown streets. The city's historic architecture, cobblestone streets, and popular attractions like carriage tours, restaurants, and ghost tours contribute to the influx of tourists, but they also bring challenges for residents.
Myrtle Beach, on the other hand, has one of the most intense visitor economies in the Southeast, with beaches, boardwalk attractions, golf, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, family entertainment, and summer traffic all layered into a single coastal strip. The sheer volume of movement, including cars, crowds, noise, and event weekends, can create significant mental strain for locals.
The survey found that traffic was the biggest source of tourism stress, as a 10-minute errand can become a 40-minute ordeal, and locals have to plan their day around bridge traffic, beach turnover, event weekends, or visitor arrival times. This cumulative stress can affect people’s stress levels, mood, and sense of control over their own community.
The economic benefits of tourism are undeniable, with Charleston's tourism industry generating $14 billion to the economy in 2024, up 7% from the prior year. However, the rapid growth of tourism has outpaced the city's infrastructure and enforcement, leading to congestion, degraded livability, and overstressed infrastructure.
The city of Charleston is addressing these challenges through its Responsible Tourism Initiative, which aims to balance the needs of everyone, with a core principle of residents first. The plan will ensure that city data is used to guide policy, infrastructure, and projects and encourage people to visit places beyond the peninsula like West Ashley.
The survey's findings underscore the need for tourists to think seriously about the wellbeing of locals, especially in destinations where the busiest months make people feel crowded out of their own hometown. As Anand Meta, executive director at AMFM, notes, "Tourism can bring huge economic benefits, and many residents clearly recognize that. But tourists also need to think seriously about the wellbeing of locals, especially in destinations where the busiest months make people feel crowded out of their own hometown."
In conclusion, the survey highlights the complex relationship between tourism and local well-being, and it underscores the need for a balanced approach to tourism management that prioritizes the needs of residents while also recognizing the economic benefits of tourism. By addressing the challenges of tourism stress, cities can create a more sustainable and inclusive tourism experience for both residents and visitors.
