Beach Tourist Season A Bust?

Alabama Economy Will high gas prices slumping economy hurt Gulf Coast beach season?

by Pat Peterson

Published: Tue, May 13, 2008 - 4:18 pm CST

Tracy Taranto and her mother, Lee Aldridge won't be visiting Gulf Shores as much as they would like to this summer.

"Our trips are definitely fewer and far between," says Aldridge.

"It's a couple hundred dollars to go somewhere, add that with your hotel and it gets pricey," says Taranto. "I just don't have the money to go down and take a weekend, it can get expensive and it's not as easy as it used to be."

High gas prices and a slumping economy could keep families closer to home this summer. But that could be good news for tourism officials along the Gulf Coast.

"Rather than flying off to some exotic place like the Carribbean or the Rocky Mountains, families will be staying closer to home and they can come here and get everything they need and want here on Pleasure Island," says Herb Malone with the Alabama Gulf Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau.

"Sure it's going to cost a few hundred dollars in gas to get home and back, but this is a value and drive market," says Stan Szapiel with Caribe Resort. "And everyone needs a vacation. Families need vacation time, it's good for the mind and for the soul."

Last year, 4.7 million people visited Pleasure Island last year, bring in over two billion dollars in revenue. Tourism officials hope the 2008 summer tourist season will be just as profitable.

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mustuknow Says:

Mon, Jun 02, 2008 at 7:40 am

We own a home in Orange Beach and we were down over Memorial Day weekend and then again this past weekend and the crowds were definitely slimmer than usual. Don’t get me wrong there was still an hour wait anywhere you went for dinner but the beaches were not nearly as congested as in years past. Also Memorial Day drew a large crowd of anglers for the annual Fishing Tournament which helped significantly.

cmb1 Says:

Wed, May 14, 2008 at 1:27 pm

Michael 0362 if you remember there we’re not near as many places to stay back then either, its so spread out now! and to those partiers some of us go for relaxation…So we’re glad that ya’ll are staying at home! lol

kctenac16 Says:

Wed, May 14, 2008 at 9:42 am

the police department in gulh shores is partly to blame. you can’t go down there anymore without getting pulled over just for them to check your vehicle. plus, many people go to the beach to party, and it’s nearly impossible to do that down there.

justme Says:

Tue, May 13, 2008 at 8:35 pm

And it doesn’t help that you Don’t get the Value for your Dollar

michael0362 Says:

Tue, May 13, 2008 at 7:28 pm

During Spring Break we stayed in Foley and went to Gulf Shores daily. The weather was cool but almost no one was there. This past weekend we went back to the beach and it was deserted.
I remember as a teenager in this area if you did not have a hotel or cottage reserved during the AEA holidays (Spring Break) you did not have a place to stay. Those days are gone.