What does it mean to “coast like a local?” According to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, a messaging campaign built around that slogan is designed to help visitors enjoy the Oregon Coast while also preserving it.
The “Coast Like a Local” campaign has been underway for more than a year, with a simple goal: instead of telling visitors what they can’t do, they're encouraged to experience the coast the way locals do.
Over the past year, the association has promoted that message through ads across radio, social media and other platforms.
“Locals understand how to best enjoy the Oregon Coast — knowing where to go, what to bring and how to respect the land. Be a visitor who gets to know the coast like a local,” one ad says.
The campaign focuses on welcoming visitors while encouraging them to help keep the coastline clean. The association says it has spent just over $25,000 on the campaign so far, generating about 1.4 million impressions.
Visitors say they’ve noticed the welcoming atmosphere.
“Everyone is so nice, they are like making jokes, very welcoming. I don’t think, I can honestly say I don’t think I have found a rude person yet,” said Ryan Northcutt.
At the Blue Agate Café, owner Joseph Ellison said tourism is essential to local businesses.
“We depend on it, we are happy to feed people and give them good food,” Ellison said.
Ellison said “coasting like a local” comes down to simple behavior.
“We just like to see them be respectable and polite to everybody and take care of our beaches and everything, and enjoy themselves and be good people and have fun,” he said.
