Despite down economy, communities optimistic for shore season

Even with the current economy, shore communities up and down the New Jersey coast are hopeful people will return for their summer vacations.

It’s the start of the summer season at the shore and towns are optimistic about tourists coming to spend their money.

Even with the current economy, shore communities up and down the New Jersey coast are hopeful people will return for their summer vacations. Mark Wahl is a spokesman for Avalon. He says people are bunking together to save money on rentals.

“People are traveling more with extended families,” says Wahl. “They are traveling with parents, grandparents and children, so they are looking for bigger units.”

Wahl says a hardware store has opened recently in Avalon along with several other small businesses, which is a good sign. Mark Soifer has been watching Ocean City tourism for 39 years. He says shore towns do better in down economic times because people stay closer to home and seek out value, but there is another factor.

“We’re hoping for good weather,” says Soifer. “Last year, June was not kind to us.”

To attract visitors, resorts are offering more free entertainment this summer — from orchestra performances to French Fry sculpting contests.