Rise Of The Road Trip:Beach Still A Big Draw In A Recession Summer

07-30-2009

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (July 30, 2009) – If you’re planning a road trip to the beach for Labor Day Weekend, you’re not alone.

 

Nearly three quarters (74 percent) of American leisure travelers used their personal car to take a leisure trip last year, according to the just-released Ypartnership/Yankelovich, Inc. 2009 National Travel MONITOR(SM). This summer, new airline fees for food, baggage and even pets plus relatively low gas prices – about a dollar per gallon less than last summer – have people hitting the road again for affordable vacations that are closer to home.

 

Drive destinations like Panama City Beach, Fla., (http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com) are seeing strong occupancy despite the sagging economy. This popular Northwest Florida destination on the Gulf of Mexico draws heavily from markets within driving distance in the Southeastern and Midwestern states.

 

“People still want to go places with their families, and they will travel if they feel confident they are getting good value,” says Dan Rowe, president and CEO, Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. He offers these observations on travel trends during a recession summer.

 

-- Beach Rules – Going to the shore remains a top choice, with one out of every two travelers preferring beach vacations*. “Many people are foregoing exotic trips to faraway locales,” Rowe points out. “Panama City Beach appeals to travelers looking for getaways that are closer to home. With 27 miles of white-sand beaches, the destination offers all the beauty of the Caribbean but is easily accessible with no passport required.”

 

-- Florida Shines – Florida tops the list, mentioned by one-third of leisure travelers as the state they would like to visit most*. The Florida park service reports a record number of visitors in the 2008-09 fiscal year. Of the 160 state parks here, St. Andrews State Recreation Area in Panama City Beach ranked in the Top Two, welcoming more than 910,000 people last year.

 

“At St. Andrews, travelers are opting for simple pleasures good for bonding with family and friends – relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, fishing in the shallow waters or off the pier, camping, hiking and biking through wooded trails, and riding the ferry or a pontoon boat to nearby Shell Island,” Rowe explains.

 

-- Family Time Preferred – Family travel remains popular, with more than four in ten adults traveling with children*. “With children off from school, most of our summer visitors are families,” Rowe notes. He says many families head to St. Andrews. With its calm waters and wide range of recreation, the park is home to a Travel Channel Top Five Beach for families.

 

Business is brisk at family attractions too, such as Gulf World Marine Park, Shipwreck Island Waterpark, the Pier Park outdoor shopping/dining/entertainment venue, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, and ZooWorld Zoological & Botanical Park, Rowe says. Also in demand is affordable family recreation, such as mini golf, go-cart racing and kayaking.

 

-- Value Is King – While Americans are still traveling, they are looking to save when possible*. “Panama City Beach offers excellent value with its a large inventory of well-priced and upscale accommodations right on the beach,” Rowe points out. Properties offer comprehensive programs for children and families. Many condominium resorts are available with units featuring multiple bedrooms for family members and friends.

 

Additionally, Panama City Beach offers plenty of no-cost but priceless entertainment and recreation options, according to Rowe. Spend a day at one of the many breathtaking, award winning beaches here. The destination has miles and miles of snowy white-sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy one of the free outdoor evening concerts taking place regularly at the Aaron Bessant Amphitheater next to Pier Park and in downtown Carillon Beach. Watch the fishing fleets come in at Captain Anderson’s Marina and stick around to see the fisherman unload their catches at dusk. Catch a fireworks display over historic Grand Lagoon from a number of waterfront restaurants.

 

Well-priced options are plentiful too. Bring a picnic lunch to St. Andrews park, ideal for swimming, sunning and spotting dolphins frolicking off the coast. Admission fee is $5 per vehicle. Enjoy an afternoon at Frank Brown Park, offering a new state-of-the-art aquatic center and more than 200 acres of trails and recreational facilities. Admission to the park is free, and aquatic center fees vary based on age and residency. Visit Rock It Lanes, offering family fun in the form of bowling, skating, billiards and arcade games. Certain nights offer special deals to stretch vacation dollars.

 

*Ypartnership/Yankelovich, Inc. 2009 National Travel MONITOR(SM).

 

 

About Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. The Northwest Florida community is home to St. Andrew’s State Park, a Top Three beach on the 2009 TripAdvisor list of America’s best beaches. Panama City Beach also enjoys recognition as a premier beach destination by Condé Nast Traveler, The Travel Channel, USA Today, Southern Living, Dr. Beach and the Clean Beaches Council. Family attractions, championship golf courses, sporting events, award-winning dining, predictably sunny weather and a vast number of recreational activities draw visitors to this seaside community. For more information, call 1-800-PCBEACH (850-233-6503) or check out the official Web site of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.

 

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