PENSACOLA, Fla. — Memorial Day Marks the Start of the '100 Days of Summer'
Tourism councils and event organizers have officially marked Memorial Day as the beginning of the highly anticipated "100 days of Summer," a period stretching from Memorial Day to Labor Day, during which businesses in the tourism industry rely on high visitor traffic. This weekend, thousands of visitors have flocked to Pensacola Beach, engaging both tourists and locals in the exciting kick-off activities.
Memorial Day weekend is widely recognized as the unofficial start to summer, and local businesses stress that the performance of their sales during this period can significantly impact their entire year. Felicia Haefner, the guest service manager at Crabs, highlighted the impressive hotel bookings in the area, noting, "We've looked at the bookings of the hotels around locally, and a lot of them are pretty full this weekend. We're expecting a good turnout. Some high expectations for our sales this weekend."
According to projections from Triple-A, over 45 million people plan to travel at least 50 miles from home this Memorial Day holiday, an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year. One of those travelers, Crystal Parker from Andalusia, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "We don't travel too far, but we do like to get out and do a little bit of adventuring." This demonstrates a growing desire among locals to explore nearby attractions.
However, the optimism in the tourism industry is tempered by economic concerns tied to President Donald Trump's recent tariffs on imported goods. This situation has prompted some consumers to reconsider their travel plans due to rising prices. Dallas Drake, a resident of Gulf Breeze, noted the impact of inflation on household expenses: "We probably will have to [stay-cation], I've noticed how much more things have already gotten. I expect them to get a little higher, so we will have to cut back some."
In response to these economic challenges, local businesses are attempting to keep prices stable to maintain customer satisfaction and encourage spending. Haefner mentioned, "We definitely built up our staffing levels trying to meet the expectations of the summer," indicating readiness to serve the influx of summer visitors while sustaining workforce demand.
On a brighter note for travelers, summer gas prices are anticipated to be the most affordable since 2021, with an average price of $3.08 projected through Labor Day. Notably, neighboring states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama are reported to have the lowest gas prices in the country, which may also encourage local and regional travel.
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