[AsburyPark] Tourism and Asbury Park

[Jim Keady]

Dear Constituents,   I have been reading with earnest the recent posts to this list.   Regarding the discussion on tourism and Asbury Park’s future, I would like to comment.   While Mr. DeSeno and those of his ilk may be willing to squander the dollars and jobs that tourism could bring to Asbury Park, I am not.  Please read the information below that gives the necessary factual background for my position.  My vision is for the City of Asbury Park to capture 1% of the $30 billion dollars spent on tourism in NJ each year and 1% of the jobs that are created by tourism each year.  If we were successful in this effort, it would:   Bring $300 million dollars in tourist revenue into the City of Asbury Park and; Would create 4,160 new jobs.   I am hopeful that there are citizens that share this vision and will support such an effort.    Peace, JWK   Prepared by NJ Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission   Frequently Asked Questions: Tourism in New Jersey   Prepared for consideration by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Offshore Wind   April 2005   1. What is the impact of tourism on New Jersey's economy? The economic impact of the Travel and Tourism industry in New Jersey is dynamic, contributing $30 billion in economic activity each year and generating 416,000 jobs, making it the second largest private sector employer. The gaming industry in Atlantic City alone employed 50,000 and took in $4.8 billion in 2004, a 7.1 percent increase over the previous year. In 2003, more than 65 million people visited New Jersey, a 12 percent increase over 2002.  That same year tourism activity generated $2.9 billion in state and local government revenues, accounted for $1.7 billion in state tax revenue and $1.2 billion in local government tax revenue.   2. How are the expenditures distributed? In terms of dollars spent, accommodations account for the largest share (37 percent) of the tourism expenditures followed by food (26 percent), shopping (16 percent), transportation (10 percent) and entertainment (7 percent).   3. From where do visitors travel? Visitors from other states account for 64 percent of tourism expenditures. In-state travelers account for 20 percent, followed by business travelers at 11 percent and international visitors at 1 percent.   4. What is the economic impact of Shore Tourism? Nowhere is the impact of the Travel & Tourism industry more evident than at the Jersey Shore, which encompasses 127 miles of ocean beaches with scenic views that run from Sandy Hook to Cape May. Just off the sand are classic coastal communities that provide hospitality, entertainment and recreation for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.   The four counties that make up the Shore regions of the state (Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean and Monmouth) account for more than 72 percent or $21.6 billion in annual economic activity. Tourism employment in these counties is significant.   What attracts tourists to New Jersey? The famous Jersey Shore is a magnet for visitors and is less than one tank of gas from more than one quarter of the U.S. population. Key factors that influence people to vacation at the Jersey Shore include recommendations by family and friends, nearly endless family activities, nightlife, live entertainment, the world-class hotel-casino resorts and shopping.   The importance of the Shore beaches cannot be overstated. The beaches offer swimming, fishing, surfing, sailing and other ocean-related activities. Many towns like Point Pleasant Beach, Ocean City, Seaside, Atlantic City and the Wildwoods offer fully developed boardwalks that attract young and old alike for oceanside fun and entertainment.     http://www.state.nj.us/travel/jersey_shore.html   http://www.state.nj.us/travel/     Councilman James W. Keady 1 Municipal Plaza Asbury Park, NJ 07712 TEL: 732.502.5196 EM: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.cityofasburypark.com     __._,_.___ SPONSORED LINKS Asbury park nj real estate United state flag Asbury park nj Asbury park real estate United state travel Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe __,_._,___