BTW, nobody has answered my question yet. Why is it that people say that Monmouth County has moved away from tourism and tourism would never work in this area again? Asbury Park really hasn't tried a major tourism effort since the 70s. I see no reason why a boardwalk thriving with stores, restaurants, and gaming couldn't bring crowds to the area every week. The people that I largely saw on the weekends in AP during the summer looked like people from North Jersey to me (judging from the towns on their t-shirts like Kearny fire company, etc.) -- if Asbury Park put some planning towards this I see no reason why it couldn't work.
I think that people WANT to believe that it cannot work to change this town to purely residential. Perhaps, because as a poster stated, they come from a real estate background. I DO NOT BELIEVE people have adequately looked at the positives vs negatives of tourism for Asbury Park. As Jim Keady points out, the positives are something to definitely look at. I feel that not only would it bring revenue and jobs to the town but it would ensure the future of businesses on Cookman. I do not think that business district can thrive if left only to the people of Asbury Park. Just look at Red Bank. For years, the downtown Red Bank area was dead. It wasn't until they started marketing the town and became known as a "hip area" that people from far away started to come to shop and eat there. Just walk around Broad Street on a Friday or Saturday night and you'll see how many out of towners are there. At times, it's a wholly Manhattan crowd.
As I mentioned before, Asbury Park is in a position that no other town in Monmouth County (including Long Branch) is in. Asbury Park is known around the world for its beach, boardwalk and music. A comprehensive tourism plan can be built around this quite easily.
Personally, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for music tourism. In December, the first music tourism item (a monument for the originators of the Jersey Shore music sound will be built in Asbury Park). This is a small but major step and we can build on it.
On Oct 17, 2006, at 2:49 PM, Jim Keady wrote:
<x-tad-bigger>Dear Constituents,</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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:</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> • </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>Bring $300 million dollars in tourist revenue into the City of Asbury Park and;</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> • </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>Would create 4,160 new jobs.</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>I am hopeful that there are citizens that share this vision and will support such an effort. </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Peace, JWK</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Prepared by NJ Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Frequently Asked Questions: Tourism in New Jersey</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Prepared for consideration by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Offshore Wind</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>April 2005</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>1. What is the impact of tourism on New Jersey's economy?</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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.</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>2. How are the expenditures distributed?</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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).</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>3. From where do visitors travel?</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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.</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>4. What is the economic impact of Shore Tourism?</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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.</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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.</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>What attracts tourists to New Jersey?</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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.</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>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.</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>http://www.state.nj.us/travel/jersey_shore.html</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>http://www.state.nj.us/travel/</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Councilman James W. Keady</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>1 Municipal Plaza</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Asbury Park, NJ 07712</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>TEL: 732.502.5196</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>EM: [EMAIL PROTECTED]</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>www.cityofasburypark.com</x-tad-bigger>
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<x-tad-bigger> Messages in this topic </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>(</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>1</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>) </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>Reply </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>(via web post) </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>| </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>Start a new topic</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
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