Local firms upset with tourism marketing outsourcing

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some local businesses are disappointed with the Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau after a recommendation it made to Wrightsville Beach. The businesses are marketing firms. They’re speaking out against the recommendation because it urged Wrightsville Beach to use a marketing firm from South Carolina to promote tourism in our area.

The local firms say the work should stay here in the community. Their argument is that they were not even aware of the opportunity and figured that the beach communities would rather have someone local to promote the area rather than someone else across the state line.

“I feel tax dollars can always be better spent here,” said Kelly Burnette of Maximum Design and Advertising. “They always say buy local. That seems to be the big push here, yet they are not doing it.”

The company hired is LHWH out of Myrtle Beach. It has been doing promotion for Wrightsville beach on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.