Participants in a Stockton University panel discussion said this week that South Jersey’s summer tourism industry faced a number of challenges but still managed a few wins.
The annual end-of summer Jersey Shoreview forum, held at the university’s campus in Atlantic City, featured business owners, tourism officials and economic experts, who gave South Jersey’s tourism season a mixed review.
Here are 5 key takeaways from this year’s panel:
1. Casino Revenue Rose, But Hotel Taxes Fell
Atlantic City’s casinos saw a 15.4% increase in gross gambling revenue this summer, totaling $1.73 billion.
Physical casinos alone brought in $855 million, up 5.5% from last year.
Despite the revenue boost, hotel tax collections declined, signaling uneven performance across the tourism sector.
2. Employment in Casinos Dropped
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Total employment in Atlantic City casinos fell by nearly 3%, down to 23,353 workers.
Traffic to the city barely increased, with vehicle counts at the Pleasantville toll plaza on the Atlantic City Expressway up just 0.6%.
3. Airshows Delivered Big Economic Impact
Atlantic City’s airshow drew 150,000 visitors and generated $19 million in local spending.
Wildwood’s airshow matched the attendance but brought in $36 million.
4. Convention Business Surged
Atlantic City hosted 15 summer meetings and conventions, a 150% increase over last year.
These events brought in $17.7 million, up 41% from the previous summer.
5. Canadian Tourism Declined, Latino Outreach Grew
Wildwood saw a 60% drop in Canadian visitors, partly due to political tensions and tariffs.
In response, tourism officials ramped up marketing to Latino families, which helped offset the decline.
end-of-summer Jersey Shoreview forum, held at the university’s campus in Atlantic City, featured business owners, tourism officials and economic experts
Contact Wayne Parry:
609-272-7000
wparry@pressofac.com
X @WayneParryAC
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