Abundance of day trippers expected at Jersey Shore this summer

This summer at the Jersey Shore, day trippers might end up outnumbering vacationers.

Despite all the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, state Sen. Chris Connors, R-Ocean, is optimistic about the tourism season at the Shore.

 

Fewer people may be making extended visits because many rental units damaged by the storm might not be repaired by summer, said Connors who represents Long Beach Island.

“Certainly those people that are in the business of providing hotel motel accommodations and rental units might see an effect on their bottom line, but I believe most of the businesses will do pretty well,” he said Wednesday.

If the weather cooperates, Connors expects most of the businesses at the Shore will be up and running by Memorial Day.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno also is hopeful about the summer season.

“We’re going to be as open as humanly possible as quickly as possible all up and down the Shore area,” she said. “So we’re hopeful that the businesses that are open now are as busy as ever.”

Connors says all the debris Sandy deposited in Barnegat Bay could cause problems for recreational boating, but he expects commercial fishing boats will be able to head out on the ocean without difficulty.