Wow... In 2007 we had 4.7 million visitors to our beautiful 32 miles of sugar white sandy beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast. Their visit contributed to the over 41,000 travel related jobs earning $909 million in wages in Baldwn County.

Many think that the Alabama Gulf Coast is still suffering from "Ivan". No we were not "wiped" off the map. The clean up is done... actually it was completed several years ago!

The Alabama Gulf Coast has had superb growth in the seasonal numbers. The numbers show substantial growth when compared to the previous years.

According the the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau 2007 numbers increased over 2006:
Winter Visitors increased 4.2%
Spring Visitors increased 17.9%
Summer Visitors increased 24.9%
Fall Visitors increased 13%

Some are worried that rising gas prices will stop summer travel... Americans will continue to travel even in an uncertain economy. They may alter their plans and travel a lessor distance. Over 90% of the visitors to our beautiful beaches arrive by personal automobile. With the Alabama Gulf Coast being a confortable drive from many major southeastern cities the visitors in the summer of 2008 are expected to show an increase over 2007.

Resources: Annual Report of the AL Gulf Coast CVB gulfshores.com
gulfshores.com
The Islander Newspaper Article "Squelching myths about health of Gulf economy by Kimberly Shumack AGCCVB