Photo by Al Campbell

CREST HAVEN — Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday always told complainants “Just the facts, ma’am.”

Diane Wieland, chairperson of the Southern Shore Region Tourism Council, presented a slew of facts and figures of who is visiting Cape May County and what they are seeking in a vacation here to the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at a Tue., July 13 meeting.

A survey was sent to 3,400 visitors from past years in January. A total of 57 percent of respondents said there were planning a trip to Cape May County this year, down from 78 percent last year with 9 percent not planning any trip this year and 24 percent undecided last January.

Once visitors arrive in the county:
• 89 percent go to a beach.
• 84 percent go to a boardwalk.
• 75 percent dine in a restaurant.
• 72 percent go shopping.
• 34 percent go to the County Zoo.
• 29 percent visit an historic attraction.
• 26 percent visit Atlantic City while here.
• 23 percent go bicycling.

Once visitors arrive here they are active an average of 14 hours per day spending about four to six hours on the beach and seeking other activities thereafter, said Wieland.
Visitors spend 70 percent of their dollars after 6 p.m., she said.

“Not a lot of money is spent while on the beach,” said Wieland.

Was the poor economy a factor in making vacation plans? The answer was “yes” from 55 percent of respondents with 21 percent indicating they would vacation closer to home and 13 percent taking only driving trips. The economy contributed to 17 percent saying they would take fewer vacations, 24 percent indicating shorter vacations and 21 percent taking more day trips.

Wieland said tourists were looking for value with 57 percent of respondents indicating coupons, discounts and package deals would help determine their vacation decision with 36 percent saying discounts could possibly sway their decision.

Quality of life issues brought visitors to the county with 43 percent indicating they came for the beach, 28 percent because the county is family oriented, 25 percent because vacationing here is a family tradition, 22 percent for dining opportunities, 21 percent because the county is close to home, 18 percent because of historic attractions, 12 percent for shopping and 9 percent for value.

On the topic of traveling companions, 65 percent arrive here with a spouse and children with 28 percent arriving with a significant other, 27 percent bring extended family, 23 percent travel with friends and 6 percent arrive alone.

Where do visitors get their information once they arrive in the county?
•67 percent from local newspapers.
•24 percent from radio and television.
•30 percent from Internet.
•32 percent from visitor’s centers.
• 36 percent from friends.

Cape May County has 50 percent of the second homes in the state representing $1.6 billion in rental income. Of second homes, 51 percent are used only by their owners for vacations while 44 are used for a mix of rentals and owner’s vacations.
Second home owners use their houses an average of 10 times per year.

Weiland said 500,000 Canadians visited New Jersey last year with 60-65 percent coming this county. Cape May County is the 16th most visited destination for Canadians with 3 million vacationing in the State of New York.

Wieland said most visitors live within a three-hour drive of the county. She said marketing is being targeted to areas further away from the county because they are more likely to stay overnight.

Wieland said 87 percent of individuals who requested information on the county, came for a visit. The survey showed that 77 percent of visitors had vacationed here previously. More than half stayed seven days which bucks a national trend of three-day vacation stays.

The average party was four persons. Major competition for visitors for Cape May County includes Cape Cod, Mass., Virginia Beach and Ocean City, Md.
The BP Gulf Oil spill has given this county a 5 percent increase in visitors, said Wieland.