Visitors from closer to home helping tourism this weekend

The vacationers may not be coming from quite as far and they may be holding a little tighter to their pocketbooks, but they still appear to be making the trip to coast.

As the July 4 holiday weekend approached, the early outlook from area businesses and tourism officials was a positive one.

Kathy Parker, owner broker of Kathy S. Parker Real Estate in Sneads Ferry, said all of the vacation rentals they have available in the Sneads Ferry and Topsail Island areas are booked; and from what she's seen, the holiday crowd was already arriving Thursday.

"It's going to be a very busy weekend here," she said.

In Cedar Point, just across the bridge from Swansboro, Barrier Island Kayaks welcomes those anxious to experience the area through a bit of sea kayaking. For visitors who don't have their own kayak to launch, they have some to rent.

While the summer started a little slow, business has been great over the past two weeks, said owner Lamar Hudgens. He's hopeful that's an indication of what's to come.

"We're cautiously optimistic," he said.

Onslow County Tourism Manager Theresa Carter said there is reason to be optimistic.

She said Onslow County has seen an 8-percent increase in lodging occupancy over the first five months of this year when compared to the same time last year. The increase comes as numbers in many other counties record declines.

Carter said the county draws families and friends of military personnel in the area as deployments take place and concentrates its marketing on attracting in-state visitors to the area.

That's who Parker says she's seeing more of this summer.

"Most of my vacationers this year are from North Carolina, most within 100 miles," she said.

According to AAA Carolinas, more than one million North Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend. However, the motor club said, economic woes, unemployment and uncertainty about the future have contributed to a drop in expected motorists this weekend.^.

Gasoline prices in North Carolina have been dropping over the past two weeks, but travel for the Fourth of July is still expected to be nearly 3 percent lower than last year.

Because many visitors to the area are staying close to home for their vacations, Carter doesn't see that as a big obstacle.

Add a nice weather forecast and the lure of the beach to the mix and her outlook for the weekend is a good one.

"Right now, I don't see anything standing in the way for us to have a great Fourth of July," she said.

The bigger question, she said, is how much visitors will spend.

"I think they are finding different ways to save," Carter said.

Bits N Pieces clothing boutique in Emerald Isle is counting on the holiday weekend to give business a boost.

"We're looking for a busy weekend and are optimistic for the rest of the season," said owner Myra Holland.

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