Hopes are up for Labor Day tourism

GULF SHORES, Alabama (WALA) - LABOR DAY BEACH BUSINESS

Labor day weekend is upon us. For many, it’s one last shot at summer and for our local beaches, it’s a chance to get back to business.

Friday afternoon, Wendy Minton, from Baton Rouge, was strolling along the shoreline. She’s one of many tourists spending her Labor Day weekend in Orange Beach.

“We came here to support the Gulf and the coast and were going to be laying on the beach, and swimming in the water, and eating seafood. Having a nice Labor Day Weekend, not laboring,” Minton said.

AT THE RESTAURANTS

At the Shrimp Basket they are getting stocked up. Manager Cathy Phillips believes it may be the busiest weekend of the summer.

“We see a lot more traffic on the road,” Phillips said. “The condos are pretty much booked. They’re doing great. Everybody’s coming down to support the Gulf Coast.”

For beach businesses battered and bruised by this long, crude summer the hope of a big weekend is nice change.

HIGH OCCUPANCY

“Last year we were about 75 percent occupied. It looks like were going to be about 72 percent this year. That’s great news,” Mike Foster, with the Alabama Gulf Coast Visitors Center said.

Foster says this summer has been tough but there’s optimism that this weekend can start a turnaround.

“The industry down here has lost a lot of money down here this year and they need something positive to excited about and rally around,” Foster said.

Beach officials don’t want Labor Day to be the end of summer and the end of tourist season so they’re extending summer into October with free concerts. In Baldwin County Brad Paisley and Bon Jovi will rock the sand and on Pensacola Beach Willie Nelson will take the stage. It’s all in hopes of salvaging a tough summer.