Where have all the tourist gone??? Whats your opinion?

[gold-digger]

I know the weathers been lousy this year (at least by me), and the beaches haven't had the usual crowds, but one thing is noticeable and that is that the tourist just aren't here. Makes me wonder if their going to some other beaches, states, or countries. Seems last year there were alot more Europeans vacationing last year. I know things will change as the temps climb, maybe its the economy.

 

[Sandman]

It isn't just the economy that keeps them away. Reports of trash in the oceans, JR. wanting to stay home an play video games, worry about skin cancer might be some reasons.

I just don't think it is warm enough yet to bring people to the water to play. Where the air right now is OK, the water is chilly.

 

[FloridaBill]

You need to take a trip to China..............

 

[Hangingfor8]

It has to be the economy. In Daytona there weren't as many people during race week or bike week, and now with spring break starting it's still not looking good. I guess everyone's feeling the crunch.

 

[Surfdigger]

Maybe it just SEEMS like less tourists.....

How are you measuring this??....is it just that you notice less tourists on the beach? less tourists in town? Ya know....the beaches have been pretty sanded in this winter and I know that the hunting has been pretty slow for you folks down there.....that would do it too....I mean just the perception of fewer finds equating to fewer tourists....I dunno.....I have seen that up here at the jersey shore in the summer time with some of my fellow detectorists......poor detecting conditions.....sanded in conditions....the first thing that gets blamed is the perception that tourism must be wayyyy down when in reality it isn't that at all. Now don't take this the wrong way....i'm not implying you don't know what you are talking about.....just making an observation about how one result sometimes leads to an inaccurate conclusion on how things truely are.....things will get better as the water warms up.....good luck to you....HH.....Brian

 

[GuerillaBill]

If today is any indication, they must all be at Siesta Key beach near Sarasota, Florida.

I drove over there this morning and the line of traffic to the beach was 6 miles long. When I finally arrived at the beach, the public parking lots had signs reading 'lot full'.

People were parking a mile away and walking - but the sane people (like me), just turned around and headed back home.

Venice beach wasn't nearly as crowded, but they plowed the public beach this morning, leaving huge rows of sand in the main walkway to the beach. It was pretty difficult to get into the beach area.

They are expected to dozer out the sand rows this afternoon so the beach will be all nice by tomorrow.

 

[Hangingfor8]

The people just aren't showing up this year for Race Week, Bike Week, or Spring Break... I think it's gas prices and the economy. Lack of people coming to the beach is one of the reasons I think my finds are down.

 

[guzz1]

Hey hang I think you nailed it with BS gas prices ,, Its all crapolla too ,,,,,3.27 a gallon my A$$..
Don't even get me started ... HH Guzz1

 

[Hangingfor8]

3.27 my foot, I just payed 3.81 for diesel try putting 30 gallons in at that price. I feel like I passed out in a gay bar after paying for that fill up.

 

[guzz1]

Down here in Sarasota season has really been good,, beaches are packed , however nobody is getting in the water and finds are slim to none .. I Was at are main beach yesterday for a 2 hour hunt , got absolutely Nothing . I thought there would be a few fresh drops .. but NOTHING. So i went just north of there and found a lot of clad deep in the sand , I believe the front pulled some sand in that area .I'm gonna try the water this weekend . Guzz1

 

[erikk]

They are all down here driving 30MPH in the passing lane

 

[BuckleBoy]

Don't worry. If our dollar goes down enough, the Canadians will be arriving in DROVES. Heck, maybe MEXICANS too!

Just depends on how long this $333,000,000.00 a day War drags on...

 

[GuerillaBill]

Guzz,

I couldn't find a parking space at Siesta beach, so I went to Casperson, and the parking lot there was full as well. So, I went to Manasota beach, and the north parking lot, the middle, and the main parking lots were full too.

It seemed like most of the people were retirees and snow birds - many of them appeared to be dressed in formal attire (at least at casperson).

I'm heading out to Casperson this morning to see what I can find.

 

[FloridaBill]

Guzz,

I went to Casperson, and the parking lot there was full as well.
I'm heading out to Casperson this morning to see what I can find.

erikk & I were there also yesterday I think we got a few clad coins that wa in, nothing great. Trouble is noone is realy getting in the water.....

Good luck we hit it pretty hard lol

 

[ivan salis]

easy the tourist have gone nowhere they stayed home -- with the economy in the tank and 3 to 4 buck gas prices --the northern folks are scaling back and pinching pennies --- the lack of tourist really hurts --no touist means no lost tourist jewelry or coins --- in fla we say the only thing good about yankee tourist is the money they bring and leave behind.

and while the dollar is cheaper in value to europe's euro -- the europeans are staying close to home when they vacation --so its a double whammy.

Ivan

 

[GuerillaBill]

Ivan,

I re-visited 4 beaches in this area today - and they are packed. The parking lots were full, and cars were being turned away.

Even the minor, little known beaches in this area are packed.

Mostly seniors, retirees, and judging by the accents, europeans.

I visited Venice Beach, Casperson beach, Sharkey's Pier, and Englewood beach.

The only place I found to park was at Casperson, around 5:00PM. Even then, lots of people on the beach. (I carefully noted where they where so I can go back later this evening).

Also, for those keeping score, all the RV campgrounds in this area are full, and most of the seasonal home and apartment rentals are full.

So, in this part of Florida (west coast, Sarasota county) the beaches are full, the visitors came for the season, and there are crowds everywhere.

I've been out on the beach each morning this week, and have only found coins, no rings or gold yet. But, they plowed most of these beaches yesterday and today, and that limits where you can search.

I'm heading to Sebastian Inlet next week (east coast of Florida), so it'll be interesting to see how many people are over there.

Bil;

 

[ivan salis]

of course I am spoeaking of locally in my area -- maybe I should have been more exact about that.

 

[wreckdiver1715]

This weekend has been very busy along the east central coast of Florida from Cocoa Beach to Melbourne beach. It has been difficult to find any parking at the beaches due to very large crowds flocking to the beaches. Lots of out of state license plates from Ontario, and all states in between.

Tom

 

[guzz1]

forget about going to the beach during the day. I'm gonna start night hunting at night . the parking situation is really bad ,,siesta beach is nuts ,, But finds are meager at best . wet dry . water nothing there . i do have a couple of other spots I got to... only way there by boat ... that will be alternative till things lighten up... Guzz1

 

[gold-digger]

One big factor for this area is POOR management on the part of county commissioners.

It seems they had a brain storm and decided that condos instead of tourist revenue would bring in more money. So they allowed big developers to buy out the hotels and knock them down to put up new high rise condo/hotels.

We had 3 hotels on the beach close down in the past year and are part of the whole tear down and make condos theme. With only a few big hotels like the Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton left a room will run you almost $200 a night. Thats costly in any pocket. You can also see it in how many shops have closed down in the past year.

Now the commissioners are seeing the decline and they're rezoning the beaches to allow more hotel rooms.

Too little too late.