Building Community Through Tourism Leslee Gaul Visit Oceanside Everywhere you look, exciting things are happening in Oceanside. The stylish new beach resorts have activated our pier beachfront with attractive new spaces and local experiences. The restoration and reinvention of the Brick Hotel is not only preserving a bit of Oceanside history, but also uniting beloved Oceanside businesses like the Succulent Café, Stone Tasting Room Oceanside and Frankie’s Cocktail Lounge in the heart of our cultural district. The beautification of the pier plaza area and the debut of the Tremont Collective with its flagship Brixton store – a brand that originated in Oceanside – are other examples in a long list of projects that pay homage to our past and celebrated O’side culture while shaping our community of tomorrow. While many of these new discoveries appeal to outof-town visitors, they are as much about creating a vibrant community and opportunities for locals and offer a good reminder of the symbiotic relationship that exists between tourism and a local community.
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This relationship was best described several years ago by a United Kingdom hospitality expert who wrote the following: “When communities invest money into tourism in a responsible manner that includes preserving the local heritage and culture as well improving infrastructure and beautification, it will in turn create better education, better leisure amenities, more cultural and special events and thus a better lifestyle for the local people.” He goes on to explain that when locals enjoy a better quality of life, they are more likely to reinvest back into the community, which creates everything from more jobs for residents to enhanced cultural attractions and special events. In return, the destination becomes more attractive to visitors, which boosts visitor spending to benefit local businesses. The destination also starts to attract a more quality visitor who is willing to invest in the destination by supporting
Winter 2022 | www.oceansidechamber.com
