Letter | We should welcome the Chinese into Myrtle Beach golf market

Chinese enhance area’s golf market

Re: Mande Wilkes May 2 column, “Chinese investors realizing the American dream in Myrtle Beach.”

Wilkes puts her words down on paper fairly effectively. I enjoy reading her commentary while not always agreeing with her libertarian slant and sort of isolationist views. In her latest column, she hits fairly hard at the Chinese entrepreneurs who purchased some local golf courses and the old fashioned way they negotiated for them, like good capitalists.

The Chinese business people weren't offered any incentives to do so, although they will be creating over 1,500 well-paying jobs which will stimulate the local economy. At the principal owner's (Dan Liu) wedding, a guest list of more than 60 businessmen and executives from China, went shopping, spending an average of $2,500 per person, a boon for our local merchants.

Having such vacationer, tourist or wedding guests shopping and spending money locally is a plus for the Grand Strand.

An executive (Nick Dou) of the Founders groups likens Myrtle Beach to a diamond in the rough and a gem of a vacation spot. In fact, Mr. Liu and Dou will be relocating to the area; they are in the process of building new homes and registering their children in local schools.

Wilkes notes that local officials and executives were jumping with joy over the $150 million (not $400 million as Mande stated) paid for the golf courses. Why shouldn't they?

The tourism money spent on advertising is paying off in big ways. We should be encouraging the Chinese to visit our area. In so doing, they will stimulate our local economy and be a springboard for other countries in the Orient to discover, visit and spend money at our diamond in the rough.

I attended Mr. Liu’s wedding ceremony and reception and found it to be exceptional friendly, cordial and a top-rated affair. Every guest received a bright red envelop containing a special commemorative good luck coin as a gift from the bride and groom.

My seat mate at the wedding was Ms. Xue Lily Xui who told me she was awed by the beauty of Myrtle Beach and the friendliness of the people and will be returning to the beach again.

To me, the Chinese new comers are most welcomed to be a part of our community.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Letter | We should welcome the Chinese into Myrtle Beach golf market."