Pinelands Rural Economic Development Pilot Program

DENNIS & MAURICE RIVER TOWNSHIPS TOURISM ANALYSIS & STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS Final Report

Whiteman &Taintor February 2000 CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION...... 1

II. LOCAL NEEDS...... 2 Objective 1-Strengthen Local Businesses by Achieving a 20 % Increase in Retail Sales over Five years ...... 2 Objective 2 - Draw Sufficient Numbers of Visitors to Reach Sales Objectives Without Compromising Community Character ...... 2 Objective 3 - Increase Property Tax Ratables ...... 4 Objective 4 - Address Wastewater Disposal Problems ...... 5 Objective 5 - Encourage Other Forms of Economic Development ...... 5 Objective 6 - Assist with Community Renewal ...... 6 III. TOURISM STATUS ...... 7 Image ...... 7 Tourism Assets ...... 10 Impacts ...... 13 IV. MARKET ASSESSMENT ...... 18 The Current Market of Travelers ...... 18 V. COMPETITIVE SET ...... 27 , ...... , ...... 28 Bucks County, Pennsylvania...... 29 Brandywine River Valley, Delaware ...... 30 The Poconos, Pennsylvania ...... 31 Pennsylvania Dutch Country/Lancaster County ...... 32 VI. STRATEGIC CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND DIRECTIONS...... 33 Key Findings ...... 33 Strategic Directions ...... 40 Target Markets Defined ...... 44 APPENDIX: ECOTOURISM IN THE ALBEMARLE-P AMLICO REGION OF NORTH CAROLINA ...... 50

Tourism Analysis and Strategy TABLES

Table 1: Numbers of Tourists Needed to Achieve 20% Increase in Sales Base for Project Communities ...... 2 Table 2: Number of Visitors and Cars Needed to Meet Visitation and Sales Objectives ...... 3 Table 3: 1998 State Forest Visitation ...... 3 Table 4: Percentage Increases in Municipal Property Tax Revenues at Varying Levels of New Investment ...... 4 Table 5: 1997 Statewide Travel and Tourism Expenditures ...... 14 Table 6: Size of New Jersey's Travel Market, 1997...... 15 Table 7: 1997 Travel and Tourism per Person Expenditures...... 15 Table 8: 1997 Travel and Tourism Expenditures by County* ...... 16 Table 9: 1997 Travel and Tourism Impacts by County ...... 17 Table 10: Reasons for Taking a Trip to New Jersey, 1997...... 18 Table 11: New Jersey's Sources of Tourism Business, 1997 ...... 19 Table 12: Places Seen, Visited or Experienced-Overnight Trips ...... 20 Table 13: Profile of Philadelphia & New York City Designated Market Areas ...... 24 Table 14: Demographic and Lifestyle Data for Selected Counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware ...... 25 Table 15: Cross-Marketing: Gamblers and Wildlife Fans' Affinities for Pinelands Activities* ...... 26 Table 161997 Accommodations Inventory Occupancy -- By County...... 35 Table 18: BayLands Area Opportunities and Challenges ...... 39

Tourism Analysis and Strategy I. INTRODUCTION

While tourism comprises a very large part of the overall Southern New Jersey economy, it plays a relatively minor role in most of the rural communities in the Pinelands. This report explores the potential for tourism to strengthen rural economies within the frame­ work of the Pinelands Commission's regional management mission. The analysis focuses on the communities of Maurice River, Dennis and Woodbine and some key nearby public lands.

Tourism Analysis and Strategy February 2000 Page 1 II. LOCAL NEEDS

What is it that these Pmelands communities wish to gam from tourism development? Based on interviews and workshops with the study communities, the following six objectives were defined. These objectives are largely compatible with each of the study comml.mities; where differences exist, they are noted.

OBJECTIVE 1-STRENGTHEN LOCAL BUSINESSES BY ACHIEVING A 20% INCREASE IN RETAIL SALES OVER FIVE YEARS

The retail bases in these communities need strengthening; tourism can be one avenue to attain stronger and more stable retail and service sectors. Table 1 indicates the annual number of tourists required to reach a 20% increase in retail sales in each comml.mity. For the purposes of th