South Jersey Sees Positive Summer Tourism Growth Despite Economic Challenges, Here’s What You Need To Know

Published on October 17, 2025

Businesses successful South Jersey person had a awesome summertime tourism season, pinch further advancement seen successful nan Atlantic metropolis casinos and nan meetings and conventions industry. Economic challenges still exist, and 1 panelist mentioned nan issues of accrued costs, and altered customer reactions. These comments were made successful nan Jersey Shoreview forum astatine nan Stockton University, Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT).

South Jersey tourism summertime capacity oversaw nan summertime play conventions Atlantic City and nan changing user patterns sheet moderated by Nicholas Huba, Digital Editor of nan Press of Atlantic City. Besides nan description , nan sheet acknowledged disruptions owed to economical weather, changing recreation behaviors, and nan ongoing labour shortages successful South Jersey tourism.

Strong Performance from Atlantic City Casinos

One of nan astir affirmative aspects of nan summertime tourism play successful South Jersey was nan beardown capacity of nan Atlantic City casino industry. According to Jane Bokunewicz, Faculty Director of LIGHT, full gross gaming gross for nan summertime deed an awesome $1.73 billion, representing a 15.4% summation year-over-year. This summation was attributed to a operation of factors, including nan resurgence of in-person gambling and increasing liking successful Atlantic City’s divers intermezo offerings.

Particularly noteworthy was nan summation successful brick-and-mortar gaming revenue, which reached $855 million, up by 5.5% from nan erstwhile year. This maturation suggests that much visitors are returning to nan casinos for nan accepted gambling experience, arsenic good arsenic to return advantage of nan resort-style amenities that Atlantic City is known for. Despite this beardown performance, casino employment saw a 2.9% alteration compared to 2024, raising questions astir whether labour shortages aliases accrued automation wrong nan manufacture whitethorn beryllium contributing factors.

Meetings and Conventions Industry Thrives

Another agleam spot for South Jersey tourism was nan rebound successful nan meetings and conventions sector. According to panelists, nan Atlantic City Convention Center saw a surge successful activity, hosting 15 shows during nan summer, a 150% summation compared to nan erstwhile year. This maturation helped make $17.7 cardinal successful delegate spending, a 41% summation from 2024.

The beardown capacity of normal tourism suggests that South Jersey is becoming an progressively charismatic location for business events, conferences, and waste and acquisition shows. As recreation restrictions and wellness concerns ease, galore organizations are opting for nan region’s state-of-the-art accommodation and affordable accommodations. The panelists noted that nan diverseness of attractions and nan region’s expertise to accommodate some firm events and leisure tourism are cardinal factors successful driving this growth.

Challenges Faced by Wildwood and Other Shore Towns

While Atlantic City saw beardown growth, immoderate different areas successful South Jersey, for illustration Wildwood, faced challenges related to upwind disruptions and changing user behavior. According to Ben Rose, head of Market and Media Relations for nan Greater Wildwood Tourism Authority, nan region had a bedewed June, which wounded first summertime numbers. However, July and August proved to beryllium very beardown months, and September, typically a quieter period, besides showed affirmative results.

Tourism successful Wildwood showed an uptick successful ft traffic, peculiarly successful position of family visits, pinch much children and families taking advantage of nan boardwalk and beaches. However, Rose pointed retired a inclination towards shorter stays and last-minute bookings. The mean magnitude of enactment successful Wildwood has dropped to 2.7 days, down from erstwhile years, signaling that visitors are progressively opting for shorter, much spontaneous trips alternatively than extended stays.

Another situation for Wildwood and different statement towns is nan effect of economical factors connected spending. Visitors are cutting backmost connected picnic spending, and Rose noted that nan mean booking model has shrunk to conscionable 16 days, a important alteration from erstwhile trends wherever bookings were made further successful advance. This displacement successful user behaviour has made it much difficult for section businesses to scheme up and negociate resources effectively.

Local Business Insights: Foot Traffic and Spending Behavior

Feras Shawi, proprietor of Brewberry Café successful Atlantic City, shared that nan summertime saw accrued ft traffic, peculiarly from families and visitors who were much focused connected enjoying leisurely activities. While nan number of visitors was up, Shawi noted that galore customers seemed much cautious pinch their spending, peculiarly connected eating and entertainment.

This cautiousness, according to Shawi, whitethorn beryllium reflective of broader economical pressures, wherever visitors are adjusting their spending habits owed to ostentation and economical uncertainty. Despite these challenges, nan business was capable to use from nan higher visitant volume, particularly during nan highest months of July and August, erstwhile much visitors flocked to nan statement for vacations.

Impact connected Local Tourism and nan Future Outlook

Looking ahead, nan tourism manufacture successful South Jersey faces mixed prospects. While nan maturation successful Atlantic City casinos and normal tourism is promising, different areas for illustration Wildwood and smaller towns connected nan statement look ongoing challenges related to economical uncertainty, weather-related disruptions, and changing visitant preferences.

The maturation successful normal tourism indicates that South Jersey is becoming much diversified successful its tourism offerings, and its expertise to pull some leisure and business visitors will beryllium important successful sustaining semipermanent growth. The shorter enactment inclination and last-minute bookings item a displacement toward much flexible, cost-effective travel, a inclination that could person lasting implications for section businesses.

As tourism officials look toward nan future, location is simply a clear request to accommodate to evolving traveler expectations and amended infrastructure to accommodate increasing numbers of visitors. A attraction connected sustainability, affordable recreation options, and divers tourism experiences will thief guarantee that South Jersey remains a apical destination for some home and world travelers.

A Positive Summer pinch Room for Growth

As we wrap up, South Jersey’s summertime tourism play looked rather good. Particularly, Atlantic City casinos, on pinch nan meetings and normal industry, beardown normal business, and meetings performed well. Nevertheless, continuing challenges pinch nan economy, short stays, and evolving user patterns show location is still activity to beryllium done successful our industry. South Jersey’s position arsenic nan premier destination connected nan Jersey Shore is feasible, particularly pinch nan accent connected nan tourer acquisition and sustainable tourism practices.