2010 a good summer for Eastern NC tourism

As summer fades to fall, midyear lodging numbers confirm reports from area coastal towns that summer 2010 was an improvement over the previous year.

“I think overall we had a pretty good summer,” said Surf City Mayor Zander Guy. “The day tripper business has been tremendous this year.”

And that is despite Hurricane Earl brushing by the coast just before the Labor Day weekend.

“It was better than last year,” Guy said.

Whether they came for the day or overnight, Crystal Coast Tourism Authority Executive Director Carol Lohr said visitors also made a strong appearance along the Carteret County’s beaches and at area attractions.

“I think we’re seeing a bit of a turn in the economy,” she said. “We had perfect beach weather, which is always good, and I think people wanted to get out and spend time together with their family. We’re a good value for the dollar.”

Lohr said the Crystal Coast may have also seen some visitors over the summer who came here instead of the Gulf of Mexico due to the oil spill.

According to the July 2010 Monthly Lodging Report conducted by Smith Travel Research, the latest numbers show an upward swing in occupancy, good news for tourism in North Carolina.

Statewide, hotel/motel occupancy increased 9.8 percent in July 2010, compared to July 2009. When looking at the Eastern region, which includes Lenoir, Greene and Jones, as well as Carteret, there was a 10-percent gain in occupancy rates when comparing July 2009 to July 2010.

When looking at year-to-date numbers through July 2010, hotel/motel occupancy is up 6 percent; and the Eastern Region has seen an increase year-to-date of nearly 5 percent.

Margo Metzger, public relations manager for the N.C. Division of Tourism, said they only have mid-year numbers for 2010, but there seems to be a turnaround across the state in terms of tourism increases.

“The year 2009 was a pretty tough year for us, but the bright spots seem to be happening in 2010,” she said.

The summer is the peak of the tourism season in the area, but Lohr and Guy said there are still plenty of reasons to visit.

The weather stays mild well into November and it’s prime time for fishing and fall events such as the North Carolina Seafood Festival.

“There are still a lot of things to bring people back through the fall,” Lohr said.

Contact Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jpippin@freedomenc.com.