The southern Jersey shore region has struggled for the past few years due to the economic downturn, but experts say there are reasons for optimism for this upcoming tourist season.
Will high gas prices have a positive or negative effect on the upcoming tourist season at the Jersey shore? And will the prices get lower by Memorial Day? (Photo by John Taggart)
ATLANTIC CITY — The area’s fiscal high priests and priestesses have augured well for the upcoming summer tourism season at the Jersey shore, despite high gas prices and competition from other states for gaming revenue.
In preparation for the shore’s busiest season, the region’s business leaders rose bright and early on Wednesday morning, May 11, to attend the third annual “Jersey Shorecast,” an event — sponsored by the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming Hospitality & Tourism at The Richard Stockton College — which, attempts to prognosticate the financial success of Atlantic City’s summer season.
Among the experts on the panel at Stockton's Carnegie Library in Atlantic City, Brian Tyrell, an associate professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies at Stockton, said that while the southern Jersey shore region has struggled for the past few years due to the economic downturn, there are reasons for optimism for this upcoming tourist season, which typically begins to heat up Memorial Day weekend.
“There are a number of metrics out there … that show that we had a positive year in 2010 relative to ’09,” Tyrell says. “Those indicators are continuing to trend in the right direction.”
Other panelists, including Vicki Clark, the president of Cape May Chamber of Commerce, reported that rental reservations in Cape May are auspiciously up by five to 10 percent from last year’s numbers.
“If I were a business owner, I might take that as a sign that perhaps its time to start thinking about reinvesting in the product,” Tyrell says. “There might be revenue I’m leaving on the table if I don’t.”
Tyrell also emphasized that while gaming revenue continues to struggle, other tourism attractions have blossomed in Atlantic City.
“There are more restaurants, there are more shops being shopped at, more entertainment venues that are entertaining, compared to five years ago,” he says.
“The gaming revenue, while big and while important for so many individuals — it's just one piece of the puzzle and the other pieces seem to be doing just fine.
“We’ve got a lot to offer here in Atlantic County — Atlantic City in particular, and really throughout the Jersey shore.”
One of the major issues that frequently resurfaced during the Jersey Shorecast forum was the question of how gas prices will affect tourism.
While some experts have predicted that prices will fall by Memorial Day (May 30), panelists discussed the impact on high gas prices on tourism revenue.
Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation today to create an Atlantic City Tourism District and announced a breakthrough in the Revel Casino project.
Sometimes, recessions can present unexpected opportunities. For members of the Atlantic City region's gay and lesbian community, what might be called a civil rights struggle, an attempt to form a real community or even just an effort to create some kind of gay social life in the area, also has one other good thing going for it.
The day after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sent staffers to visit Atlantic City Mayor Langford, the mayor says he doesn't feel much different about the concerns he raised last week and that the ball is in the governor's court now.
On a sizzling hot Boardwalk Wednesday Governor Chris Christie did his best to say that the state was looking to help Atlantic City, not take over. “I’m here to extend the hand of partnership to the city,” Christie said. "We are entering into this public private partnership because we have to remake ourselves. We want to make Atlantic City a place where families and businesses want to be and want to come back to again and again.”
This GLBT population consistently frequents areas/genres that cater to multiple orientations. They are not limited to the old definition, but are more so driven to openly enjoy themselves in environments that are mutually sensitive — and not offensive.
Proposed $40 fee hike would help fund political lobbying Tom Kelly Inman News™ Given the present economy, how would you feel if your professional organization bumped your dues, in part to help lobby politicians in other states? Some local associations are giving a cold shoulder to a proposed $40 dues increase from the National Association of Realtors in order to fund the trade group's Political Survival Initiative. The boost would move a member's minimum annual payout from $80 to $120. A common reaction to the dues increase was voiced by Seattle-King County Realtors President Kirsten Greenlaw in a letter to D'Ann Jackson, a local National Association of Realtors director. The letter asked, "So why do we need a national dues increase that promises to return 70 percent of the money to state and local boards for enhanced local advocacy efforts? We want NAR to advocate the mortgage interest deduction with members of Congress, not help elect the governor of Alaska." The mortgage interest deduction, along with the capital gains exclusion on a primary residence, availability of funds for jumbo loans and the streamlining of the short-sale process, are the key national topics most Realtors...
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1. Anonymous said... on May 15, 2011 at 12:31PM
“Try to drive from Illinois to Atlantic City every June. Hotel prices in route are up, gas prices are up, AC resort fees are outragious. Hard to find a $15 meal. Thought about flying to Vegas instead; but flights are outragious too. Still going to drive this year. Hopefully the women will feel safe on the boardwalk at night this time, or it might be our last time in AC. Too many wierd characters hanging around last time we were there.”