2012 Baldwin CO. tourism numbers released

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - Gulf Shores and Orange Beach tourism officials released their official summary of the 2012 tourism numbers November 2 in Gulf Shores.  In 2011, the beaches set all-time records, but this year’s are even better.

As fall sets in, Alabama’s beaches are pretty much left to the birds, sea gulls and snow birds that is.  There was no problem finding a sandy piece of beach in the sun Friday, but that certainly wasn’t the case this summer.  Herb Malone with the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Convention and Visitor’s Bureau said this year’s taxable revenues are way up.

“We set all new records last year and this year, we’re already looking at being up sixteen percent over last year,” Malone said.

By year’s end, it’s estimated that will equal $320 million in taxable lodging revenues, $40 million more than last year.  Retail sales are also up by nearly eight percent over 2011.

Malone credits BP’s continued marketing efforts with much of the area’s continued rebound from the oil spill of 2010.

“BP has run their commercials throughout the United States. I believe in every TV market and every TV station, because everywhere I travel and everybody I talk to from other places has seen them and seen them with great frequency,” Malone said.

Whatever the reasons, there’s no doubt people came.  Bill McGinnes has owned Pappa Rocco’s Pizzeria in Gulf Shores for 27 years and said this summer was the best he’s ever had.

“Why?  I don’t really know man,” McGinnes said.  “I wish I had the answer, but I hope next summer’s just as good.  It’s been great.”

Of course, the extra revenues are exciting for the businesses as well as the affected cities throughout the county and Malone said the extra revenue assures funding for continued improvements.

“The elected officials always like the revenues to be up,” Malone pointed out.  “It gives them the opportunity to do more for the citizens of the community, continue to maintain a quality of life we all enjoy, and we’re all looking forward to the Restore Act and how that’s going to change our world with some of the funding that’s going to come with that.”

Last year, Baldwin County beaches saw 4.9 million guests who spent $2.6 billion while here.  Those numbers are also expected to be surpassed by year’s end.

These figures have been supplied by the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.