SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- In 2021, travel in Lower Delaware rapidly sped up.
Southern Delaware Tourism says revenue generated by state hotel tax is eclipsing pre-pandemic numbers by 41 percent.
Online data indicates hundreds of thousands of people expressed interest with over 141,000 people visiting the Southern Delaware Tourism website and 500+ hotel bookings were credited to Southern Delaware advertising. But Executive Director Scott Thomas says all that success came with challenges.
"Worker and labor shortages," Thomas said. "I think that the ability to welcome guests and have that Sussex County experience that everyone is accustomed to."
New "Bike & Stay" and "Paddle & Stay" programs enticed outdoorsy visitors.
Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber Of Commerce President Carol Everhart says President Biden's beach residence attracted visitors but it was locals who kept them coming back.
"2020 was devastating to everybody and was a real challenge," Everhart said. "A lot of adaptations. I tip my hat to the businesses who adapted to every turn that they had to."
Some well-known adaptations included expanded outdoor dining and carry out alcohol. Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf says that's the reason for many restaurants' success during the pandemic and plans to make it a fixture here on what's called the culinary coast.
"We're going to put legislation in in January," Schwartzkopf said. "Try to have it heard in both houses in January that would take the sunset provision off and leave outdoor dining as a permanent fixture in our state."
Thomas says partnerships will be the key to success next year.
"Businesses working together," Thomas said. "Creating these new experiences whether it's for outdoor enthusiasts, entertainment enthusiasts combining them with hotels. That's what we like to do at Southern Delaware Tourism is try to elevate that."
