Virginia Pilot Looks at Tourism in the Outer Banks

N.C. tourism was down, but with bright spots

Fishing and the weather have been good on the Outer Banks. And unlike in the summer of ’08, gas prices have held steady and there have been no major storms or wildfires to scare tourists away.

“We’re doing better than anticipated,” said Aaron Tuell, public relations director for the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

“The Outer Banks is proving itself as a relevant and strong vacation destination for many Americans during the worst recession in memory,” he said. “It’s not all roses, but other places are doing a lot worse.”

Still, the recession and beach closings from nesting birds and turtles continue to play economic havoc on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.

Business on the islands dropped about 15 percent compared with last year, said Allen Burrus, owner of Burrus Red & White Supermarket in Hatteras Village.

While some did a little better, “overall you’ll find universally it was a little worse than last year,” said Burrus, who is vice chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.

Money spent on accommodations on Hatteras and Ocracoke fell nearly 10 percent in July and more than 6 percent in June compared with the same months last year.

Occupancy revenue for the entire Outer Banks dipped by 5.4 percent in July and more than 13 percent in June compared with the same periods in 2008, according to Visitors Bureau statistics.

That doesn’t necessarily mean there were fewer visitors, Tuell said. Some vacationers may have rented less expensive accommodations or stayed for shorter periods of time in more costly quarters.

Sun Realty saw an increase in smaller-home and partial-week rentals on Hatteras, marketing director Cori Davis said.

Rentals were discounted 20 to 40 percent in some cases, Tuell said, as the Outer Banks competed with other coastal destinations.

Vacationers didn’t cut back much on dining out, however.

Revenue for meals throughout the Outer Banks fell by only 1.7 percent in July, compared with the same month last year, Tuell said.

Limited seasonal access to Hatteras and Ocracoke beaches hurt some businesses.

“I’m still a third off this year,” said Bob Eakes of Red Drum Tackle in Buxton. “I don’t have a lot more I can give up.”

In April 2008, a federal judge signed a consent decree that protects wildlife on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

From mid-March to mid- to-late August, posted areas are off-limits to vehicles, pedestrians and pets to protect threatened and endangered nesting shorebirds.

Sea turtles are included, and 22 turtle protection areas were still in place last week, according to the National Park Service.

There were 23 breeding pairs of oyster catchers in 2008 and 2009, with 13 chicks fledged this year, compared with 17 the year before, according to Park Service statistics. Piping plovers had nine nests this summer and 11 the year before; six chicks fledged, compared with seven in 2008. Sea turtles had 103 nests this year and 112 the summer before.

Some fishermen didn’t come to Hatteras at all this year because of the closures; others are coming later, said Bryan Perry, owner of Frisco Rod & Gun. “If they did come, they weren’t buying tackle or fishing when Cape Point was closed because of nesting birds,” he said.

Derek Taylor, captain of the Carolina Girl, said charters have been better than early bookings indicated.”However, this will be the slowest year I’ve ever had,” he said.

There are bright spots.

“It was not a bad summer,” said Tommy Hutcherson, manager of Ocracoke Variety Store. “The fall is holding up pretty good.”

Ferry traffic between Hatteras and Ocracoke was up in June, July and August.

Fishing and business are “very, very good right now,” Eakes said.

Perry noted that catches of white marlin and sailfish were “tremendous” this year.

And this has been “one of the most prolific dolphin seasons we’ve had in years,” said Steve Hissey of Teach’s Lair Marina in Hatteras Village.