ORANGE BEACH — The sun is shining, and the beaches are packed along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The draw of thousands during the Fourth of July week means more money for Baldwin County businesses and for the entire state of Alabama.
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) has seen the action firsthand. That’s why he recognizes the importance of the state giving back to its largest tourism destination.
“It makes up over 60% of the state's entire lodging tax revenue,” Elliott told 1819 News. “That comes from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, certainly from Baldwin County. So, it is the destination in the state of Alabama.”
As a lawmaker, Elliott has elevated Baldwin County to a high level of importance. He sees the need for continued investments to support the growing number of people vacationing in the county.
“We have about eight and a half million visitors to Baldwin County each year, about six and a half million of which go to the beach,” he said. “They spend about $8 billion each year in Baldwin County, almost a billion and a half in retail sales alone.”
“It's a huge revenue generator for the entire state of Alabama,” he continued. “We need to continue to invest in infrastructure specifically in Baldwin County so that the tourists that generate all of this revenue for the state and for localities can continue to generate that revenue and the state of Alabama will continue to see the results of that spending.”
Baldwin County's biggest challenges are transportation and infrastructure. Elliott said he has voiced his concerns in Montgomery about the need to move the over 8 million visitors. He said that due to more and more people moving to the area, population counts are almost instantly obsolete but also less important because many on the roadways are from out of town.
“We have to be careful using population-only numbers and instead make investments based on traffic count and where that traffic count is yielding revenue,” Elliott explained. “That is the challenge when I talk to my colleagues in the legislature, is getting them to realize that this tourism is huge business.”
Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon is well aware of how beneficial tourism is in lower Alabama but he agrees that traffic continues to be a challenge.
“For a tourism center like us, it's a mixed blessing,” Kennon told 1819 News. “About 10 weeks out of the year it’s really tough with all the traffic and added numbers for those of us that live here.”
Kennon said the Fourth of July week has historically made the biggest impact on revenues and it looks like this year will be no different.
“We do send a lot of money to Montgomery,” Kennon said. “The greatest portion of all tourism dollars come from down here. By the same token, those revenues hopefully provide for our full-time residents.”
Kennon continues to promote Orange Beach as a family-friendly destination, which he says has contributed to its success, even during tough economic times.
“I think the economy is taking a toll on some discretionary spending, but it doesn't seem to be too bad,” Kennon said. “We are still benefiting from the revenue and we’re able to provide all the fantastic amenities that we have here in town. I think the number one thing is when people come down here, they know our brand is family-friendly, and we're not going to put up with any nonsense.”
Beth Gendler, the president and CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, monitors trends each year. She said she is already seeing an increase in visitors this year.
“We're forecasted to be up this week, Sunday through Saturday, up 2% over last year,” Gendler said. “Part of that is inventory increases. So, we have more available rental units this year than we did last year.”
Part of the draw is tradition for many. Gendler said people bringing their kids to the Gulf Coast do so because they were brought here as kids. Furthermore, the destination is unique due to the businesses and restaurants built by the people.
“You're not going to come here and find a bunch of chain restaurants,” Gendler explained. “They're individually owned by people who live and work here … They are unique, wonderful businesses from restaurants to The Wharf and all of the things that are there.”
The coast also has Gulf State Park, which has fishing areas and trails. Locally owned and operated dolphin and dinner cruises are available from multiple locations. Gendler said those amenities are another reason people come back year after year.
“You can really come here and do as little or as much as you want,” she said. “I think that sounds like the perfect vacation to me, frankly.”
Meanwhile, Elliott said he continues to find ways to assist those living in Baldwin County. His Workforce Housing Tax Credit bill, passed this year, helps offset the cost of housing for many who work in the tourism sector. The bill appropriates over $150 million over 10 years into workforce housing credits.
Visitors to the area also pay a penny tax for schools, which has helped improve education throughout Baldwin County.
“We are a tourism-based economy in South Baldwin County,” Gendler added. “The businesses, restaurants, and all the shops that we have and all of these accommodations, these are not for the residents; they're for the visitors, and they succeed and are greatly enhanced because of all of these visitors to our area. It's wildly important to have these visitors in our area. This is our industry.”
Elliott said that while residents may not have to pack clothes for vacation, they should pack their patience because traffic headaches and busy stores are well worth it.
“From a resident standpoint, it can be tough to have all these visitors in town,” he said. “It really can, but a lot of their tax revenue, especially on the local level, stays, and we are able to benefit from that tax revenue when it comes to schools in particular.”
All residents and visitors are reminded to pay attention to the Baldwin County Beach Safe Campaign and the risk of rip currents. The flag warning system lets beachgoers know if it is safe to go into the water. A red flag represents high surf and/or strong currents. Double red flags mean the water is closed to the public.
You can text ALBEACHES to 888777 to get beach condition alerts daily. For those who want to stop alerts when they leave the beach, just text STOP.
(Gendler clarified that while businesses are driven by tourism, the residents are patrons as well as owners and operators that allow our area to be what it is.)
To connect with the author of this story or to comment email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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