Looks Like Another Record Breaking Summer For Tourism At Jersey Shore
By Paul Kurtz
CAPE MAY, N.J. (CBS) -- All signs are pointing to another memorable summer at the Jersey shore, in terms of the number of people who visited.
The official numbers are still being compiled but Cape May County Department of Tourism Director Diane Wieland says the indicators are encouraging.
"We know that the Memorial Day weekend and 4th of July weekend we had record crowds," she says. "We know that Labor Day weekend was a great weekend. Our occupancy rate is up nine percent as of the end of June."
Throw in an August that was one of the best on record and Wieland believes tourism revenue will top last summer's record breaker.
"We generated $5.79 billion in tourism revenue," Weinland says, "and we're looking at probably a four to five percent increase this year."
Consistantly sunny, pleasant weather and lower gas prices are seen as two big contributors to the summer of 2015's big numbers. The official statistics are expected to be released in February.