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Tourists to Eastern Connecticut stay home
By BRIAN
WALLHEIMER
Norwich Bulletin
June was very rainy, conditions that might explain a rather large decrease in Eastern Connecticut's tourism this season.
"I noticed probably 10 percent less in the amount of people coming through," Gloria Priam, co-owner of Priam Vineyards in Colchester, said. "It's been endless rain."
Rain fell 19 of 30 days in June here, totaling about 2 inches more than the area's average of 3.5 inches for the month. Almost all tourism areas, except the casinos and restaurants, saw numbers fall because of it.
The casinos saw business increase 4.4 percent and restaurants saw a 1.8 percent increase, according to the Mystic Country travel index for June, distributed by the Eastern Connecticut Tourism District.
"We're having a very busy summer," said Tom Cantone, Foxwoods Resort Casino vice president of marketing and entertainment.
Cantone said the casino's hotels have been booked to near capacity since the weather turned warm.
Mitchell Etess, president and chief executive officer of Mohegan Sun, said both casinos have promoted heavily this summer, including theme nights at Mohegan Sun and a number of events.
"We have a very strong entertainment calendar, and you add the Connecticut Sun (Women's National Basketball Association team) and we're marketing a lot of different events," Etess said.
But retail in the region was down 2.5 percent, lodging was down 4.8 percent, attractions were down 10.3 percent and other businesses were down 14.7 percent.
"We're having essentially a washout," said Michael O'Farrell, a publicist with the Mystic Seaport. "The same thing happened last year. It was very wet at the beginning of the season."
The Mystic Aquarium, according to Director of Public Relations David Labbe, had a "flat" June. But he said July is beginning a rebound, with attendance up about 3 percent.
Even the ferries to Long Island and Block Island have been struggling. Cross Sound Ferry and Block Island Express Director of Marketing Stan Mickus said the company is offering discounts because of the lull in summer business this year.
"We're getting creative to try to spur some ridership," Mickus said. "It's been sort of up and down."
Some tourist spots said they're seeing different patrons this year, more locals, because of high gas prices.
Priam, whose business relies on people driving along the Connecticut Wine Trail, said she thinks it is a major factor in the loss of business at the winery.
Gas prices have hit record highs this summer, with a gallon of regular unleaded going for more than $3.20 last week in the state, according to AAA.
But AAA Hartford spokesman James MacPherson said driving during the summer holidays, Memorial Day and Fourth of July, has been up nationwide. Fourth of July, for instance, saw a 1.2 percent increase in vehicular travel during the holiday weekend.
MacPherson said there are other things that point to driving picking up this summer as well.
"We're seeing an extremely healthy demand for our automotive travel products," he said.
Cantone said Foxwoods was taking advantage of the high prices by offering gas cards to patrons in return for Wampum Points, the casino's system of rewarding gamblers for playing. Last week, it gave out 29,000 gas cards equaling $1 for one Wampum Point, something patrons see as a major value.
Bill Collins, 50, of Lawrence, Mass., cashed in his points last week for $350 in gas cards. He said he didn't plan on returning to Foxwoods ever again because he liked Las Vegas casinos better. But the promotion lured him in one last time and he stayed for lunch.
"This is my opportunity to cash in every point I have and never come back," Collins said.
Joan Fuller, 68, of Westport, Mass., said gas prices have crimped her usual travel plans.
"We don't come down here as often as we used to," she said.
Most of the businesses said they were hoping for better weather the rest of the season and an attendant increase in business.
"For us, July and August are really the prime months," O'Farrell of Mystic Seaport said. "It has the potential to be an OK year."
Reach Brian Wallheimer at 425-4241 or bwallheimer@ norwichbulletin.com
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