February 19, 2013
Rutgers-Eagleton
Poll: Sandy Not Spoiling Shore-Goers’ Plans
More than
three-quarters of regular Jersey
shore visitors plan to go “down the
shore” this summer as usual, despite
the havoc wreaked by Superstorm
Sandy, according to a
Rutgers-Eagleton Poll. Most – 64
percent – say they will spend about
as much time as in summers past,
while 13 percent say they will make
longer stays. Just under two-thirds
of the 20 percent who will make
shorter visits say Sandy is the
reason they will cut back.
Besides those who live there, just
under 60 percent of New Jerseyans
typically visit the shore during
summer, with most usually staying a
week or less. Thirty-six percent are
day-trippers, 21 percent visit up to
three days and another 19 percent
stay between four and seven days.
One-quarter of shore-goers spend
more than a week, including 8
percent who spend the entire summer.
About 30 percent of visitors who
stay four days to a week are
planning to cut back. Only 5 percent
of these visitors plan to spend more
time. Among other visitors, the
percentage planning to spend less
time is mostly offset by those who
plan to spend more.
“The summer tourist season seems
surprisingly stable, though perhaps
down slightly based on current
plans,” said David Redlawsk,
director of the Rutgers-Eagleton
Poll and professor of political
science at Rutgers. “While some
regulars will cut back due to Sandy,
most expect to spend as much or more
time than ever enjoying the Jersey
shore. Even those cutting back are
still more likely to visit than to
stay away entirely.”
Atlantic City (11 percent) and
Seaside Heights – home to MTV’s
Jersey Shore – (10 percent) are
respondents’ top destinations,
followed by Wildwood, Long Beach
Island, Point Pleasant and Ocean
City.
Results are
from a poll of 796 adult New
Jerseyans conducted statewide among
landline and cell phone households
from Jan. 30 – Feb. 3 with a margin
of error of +/- 3.5 percentage
points.
How long will visitors stay?
While the large majority of summer
shore regulars are planning a trip,
visits may be shorter than usual.
About 70 percent who normally stay
more than a week still plan to visit
that long, while 20 percent will
make shorter stays and 7 percent are
unsure of their plans. Only 2
percent of these long-term visitors
will skip the shore completely. Of
those who generally stay between 4
days and a week, 28 percent plan to
spend fewer than four days and 3
percent have no plans to visit. But
10 percent expect to stay longer.
More than half (54 percent) of
short-term visitors (up to three
days) plan to take their usual
vacation. Twenty percent will stay
longer and 22 percent will spend
less time. Almost three in 10
regular day-trippers actually plan
to spend more time at the shore this
year.
“Taken together, the evidence
suggests the typical visitors will
spend less time, rather than more
time at the shore, but not by much,”
said Redlawsk. “In-state tourism
might decline, but not as much as
might be expected after Sandy. The
lure of the Jersey Shore is strong,
and most respondents do not plan to
let the storm interfere with their
regular summer vacation beach
routines.”
Just under two-thirds of all
visitors expecting to cut back cite
Sandy as the reason for reducing
their planned shore visits. Those
personally affected by the storm are
nearly twice as likely to spend less
time at the beach this summer.
Residents who believe New Jersey has
not returned to normal since Sandy
are five points more likely to spend
less time at the shore than those
who think the state is back to its
pre-Sandy condition (20 percent
versus 15 percent). Likewise,
those who favor coastline
reassessments over immediate
rebuilding for summer are nine
points more likely to cut back on
shore visits.
The who, what, where and
when of the Jersey Shore
While most shore county residents
either visit (54 percent) or live at
the shore (30 percent), south
Jersey/Philadelphia area residents
are the next most likely to visit,
at 64 percent. About 40 percent of
New Jerseyans from other areas do
not typically go to the beach.
Parents (70 percent) are much more
likely to frequent New Jersey
beaches than those without children
(54 percent). The shore is also most
popular among middle-aged groups: 65
percent of 30 to 49 year-olds visit,
as do 62 percent of those 50 to 64.
Only 55 percent of those 18 to 29
and 44 percent of those 65 and older
visit. Garden Staters in the lowest
income bracket are the least likely
to be shore-goers (49 percent).
Day trips to the shore are most
popular across the board. By a
2-to-1 margin, the childless are
more likely than parents to stay the
entire summer. While younger
visitors are more likely to take
shorter trips, older vacationers are
more likely to stay longer.
Well-to-do New Jerseyans are apt to
take longer trips.
Atlantic City and Seaside Heights
are most popular with shore
visitors, followed by Wildwood, Long
Beach Island (LBI), Point Pleasant
and Ocean City. Urbanites (21
percent) and south Jerseyans (19
percent) are most likely to enjoy
Atlantic City, but suburbanites
favor LBI (12 percent). Exurban
residents choose Point Pleasant (10
percent), and those in shore
counties who don’t live at the shore
prefer Ocean City (9 percent).
Visiting parents are most likely to
go to Atlantic City (15 percent) or
Point Pleasant (10 percent), while
those without children favor Seaside
Heights (12 percent) and Wildwood
(11 percent).
Atlantic City is most popular with
those 65 and older (23 percent) and
with household incomes under $50,000
(19 percent). Seaside Heights is
most popular with the under-30 crowd
(21 percent) and lowest income
bracket (21 percent). Wildwood and
LBI are most popular among the
youngest age group and those 50 to
64, who also favor Point Pleasant.
Ocean City is also a favorite
destination for the oldest shore
visitors.
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