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Tourists still going to Outer Banks despite gasoline prices

MANTEO, N.C.—More people visited the Outer Banks in June than a year ago despite soaring gasoline prices and other impediments to tourism, The Virginian-Pilot reported last week.

The Outer Banks this year also have suffered from drifting smoke from two wildfires, closed beaches and the troubled economy.
Statistics compiled by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau show a 7 percent rise in occupancy in June over the same period last year, according to the newspaper.

The figures show that the gains were in rentals of houses. Occupancy at campgrounds, hotels and motels was down in June.
Visitors bureau director Carolyn McCormick says the overall gain shows the viability of the Outer Banks.

The numbers showed, however, that restaurants experienced a slight decline in business, indicating that visitors spent less money once they arrived at their rental house.

Receipts in the first six months of the years were up more than 4 percent, to about $107 million, McCormick said.

Rental homes were the leader, up 10 percent in June and bringing in more than $56 million. Occupancy rises included time shares and bed-and-breakfast inns.

Occupancy also increased on Hatteras Island, where miles of federal beaches are closed to protect the nests of endangered birds and sea turtles, according to the visitor’s bureau.

County officials have said the beach closures hurt the island’s economy.

But Allen Burrus, whose family owns a grocery store in Hatteras Village, said his business was good. Burrus also is vice chairman of the county board of commissioners and had been concerned about the beach closures.

“I own a small mom-and-pop grocery store, but I’m doing well,’’ Burrus said. “Business is up.’’

Customers at his store haven’t bought expensive items, such as steak, he said.

Gross receipts dropped more than 1 percent for restaurants in June, according to the bureau. For the first six months of the year, restaurant sales were flat at $75.8 million.

“It’s not terrible, but it’s also not one of our banner years,’’ said Nags Head restaurant owner Dan Bibey.

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