GULFPORT — The Coast’s tourism industry has been struggling through a slowdown brought on by the anemic national economy, but experts in the field say some narrow sectors are doing well and others are expecting brighter days.
Air traffic in and out of the Coast is holding its own and new flights have been added. Hotel and motel room rentals are down, but the picture is improving.
In short, this summer has been a time of survival for the industry.
“It’s not as busy as we would like,” said Bob Davidge, a spokesman for Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis.
At the Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association, Executive Director Linda Hornsby put it this way: “I do think we have bottomed out. We’re going to turn around, but it’s just taking a little bit longer than expected.”
Richard Forester, at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, said hotel occupancy rates have been running just north of 60 percent. Rentals of the Coast’s 10,000 rooms were down 6 percent in June and 11 percent in July, but those were improvements over recent months.
“We haven’t turned the corner yet, but I think I see it in sight,” Forester said.
Some niche tourism businesses, though, have actually been boosted by the poor economy.
“Things look very encouraging,” said Louis Skrmetta at Ship Island Excursions.
His company takes passengers from Gulfport Harbor on day trips to Ship Island. Skrmetta said the recession seems to be helping his businesses.
His clientele is mostly people from neighboring states who are opting for day or overnight trips to the Coast, instead of longer, expensive vacations with faraway destinations.
Skrmetta’s three boats can take 1,200 people a day to the island at maximum capacity, and that has happened at least twice this summer.
“We think we will surpass the 40,000 mark this year,” he said — a level not reached since before Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport has been recovering this year from the loss of AirTran, a major carrier that pulled out in January.
“That left a big void,” said Jeremiah Gerald, director of air service development.
However, Continental began offering popular flights from Jacksonville and Tampa, and three new flights a week by Southern Skyways offer low-cost trips to and from Atlanta.
“Those passengers have a huge, direct effect on the economy,” Gerald said. “They come here for two or three days, and they spend money.”
In July, 37,000 people got off flights at the airport.
“That was the best on record for this year, and we expect to keep those numbers up,” Gerald said.
“In the fourth quarter, we’re going to be just about where we were in the fourth quarter last year.”
Hollywood Casino has been offering specials including reduced-price meals for senior citizens one day a week.
The casino has also reopened its marina and gave away two Chevy Corvettes in August.
Two others will be given away in October.
The hotel industry, too, has come up with new tactics to fight recession.
This summer, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Hotel and Lodging Association began offering a three-night stay package, with the last night free.
However, Hornsby said, hotels discovered that many people didn’t have that third night to spare.
So, the industry came up with an alternative: For two-night stays, the second night at participating hotels is half price.
“We call it the BOGO,” Hornsby said. “By one, get one.”
Forester said this season seems partially bleak because 2008 was strong for Coast tourism.
The recession was not as pronounced then. But now, vacation and travel plans are being scaled back or scrubbed altogether.
“We had a really good year last year, so we’re comparing apples and oranges,” he said.
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