Story Created:
Jul 3, 2008 at 7:50 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 3, 2008 at 7:50 PM CDT
(July 3, 2008)
PORT ARANSAS--Visitors are expected to come in big numbers this weekend to Port Aransas on this three-day July 4th Holiday weekend and local businesses are expecting to make some big bucks off the summer tourists.
The crowds have been coming all day to Port A and the Ferry Crossing has been busy with traffic. On the Port Aransas side, traffic is light, but on the Aransas Pass side, there's an hour wait to get across. Leaders say this busy traffic of cars could mean a big boom for local merchants.
Authortiies said they're expecting more than 100,000 people to come to Port Aransas this holiday weekend. Tourists are coming here to boat, parasail, fish and relax. With the big crowds visting Port A, officers will set up patrols and increase their presence.
"We'll be watching the county parks and the fireworks and making sure people won't be drinking too much," said Constable Bobby Sherwood of Precinct 4 in Nueces County.
The tourists are coming all over including from the Coastal Bend, Central Texas and out of state. Many are repeat returnees who just can't get enough of Port A.
"I love salt water fishing," said Joe Shunk, a tourist from Austin."We come down several times of the year. At least it's not raining and we're not working and that's good to me."
City officials said this is the busiest weekend of the year. They noticed already how traffic is picking up around this small town.
"We're expecting all of our facilities and different campgrounds and hotels to be at full capacity," said Mike Kovacs, Port Aransas City Manager. "We're expecting a lot of crowds and day-trippers and people coming and having a good time."
Business leaders said so far, it's been a good year for tourism in Port A. While this weekend's crowd won't make or break them, it will set a trend for the rest of the year.
"Obviously it's the biggest weekend of the entire year for us, so I wouldn't call it a make or break, but we're looking for a tremendous economic impact," said Ann Vaughan, who works for the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce.
