OCEAN CITY (AP) — Mid-Atlantic resorts are hoping that gas prices spiraling toward $4 a gallon and a cooling economy won’t keep vacationers at home this summer. But they’re bracing for shorter stays and less spending on restaurants and entertainment.
“People are staying less time,” said innkeeper Vicki Barrett, who runs Inn On The Ocean, a six-room bed and breakfast. “They’re not staying for five days or seven days. They’re staying for two days or three days.”
Along the beaches of Maryland and Delaware and at other resorts that rely on summertime traffic, this season is a big question. Some say business will slow as people cut vacation spending. Others are hoping the weak dollar and high gas prices will keep summer travelers closer to home.
“People are starting to really watch those gas prices,” said Jason Lake, of Clarksburg, W.Va., enjoying a one-week honeymoon that he refused to cancel because of economic worries. However, concern about gas costs prompted him to choose a more fuel-efficient way to travel.
“We did bring the car instead of the truck this year,” he said. “But other than that, we didn’t change any plans.”
Said new wife Melissa, with a laugh: “We just got a lot of wedding money. That helps.”
Maryland tourism officials say they’re targeting more vacationers from neighboring states such as West Virginia and Pennsylvania this year. The theme of some ads going up this summer is “Pretty. Close.”
“They always come out with these reports that when gas hits X, people will stop traveling,” said Margot Amelia, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism. “We just don’t see that.”
Mrs. Amelia thinks Mid-Atlantic resorts will benefit if people change plans because going to their beaches region will look more attractive than going to those in Florida or the Carolinas.
An annual travel survey released earlier this month by AAA Mid-Atlantic put a day of vacation in Maryland at $258 for fuel, lodging and food — slightly above the national average of $244 a day but far below a day in New York City ($606) or Miami ($370).
Still, resort merchants remain concerned.
In Rehoboth Beach, Del., innkeepers are advertising free gas cards with a reservation, or free nights with a booking.
“Reservations seem to be coming in steadily, but I think people are taking shorter trips,” said Andy Dorosky, owner of the Royal Rose Inn, where vacationers get a free third night if they pay for two.
Another concern for the merchants is that they’ll have to hold prices, despite the higher costs of electricity and food.
Mrs. Barrett said that she has yet to see a decrease in reservations and that the inn also hosts luncheons and weddings to generate revenues.
However, husband Charlie Barrett thinks vacationers are more budget-minded this year.
“They may not go out to the higher-priced restaurants as much,” he said.
Several early-season vacationers in Ocean City said economic worries did not spoil their holidays.
“There’s no way I’m going to say, ’We’re not going on vacation because gas prices are so high,’ ” said Lynn Green of Willow Grove, Pa., relaxing recently in a beach chair near Ocean City’s boardwalk. “I think people work so hard all year, they’re so stressed. The higher gas prices, that’s just part of taking a vacation.”
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