Navarre Beach ready for comeback
NAVARRE BEACH - After the ruin from hurricanes Ivan in 2004 and Dennis in 2005, Santa Rosa County tourism officials say the beach is back and ready for this year's tourist season.
"We are back and better than ever," Tourist Development Council Executive Director Kate Wilkes said at a media event Friday. "Our beach never looked so good."
The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is kicking off the season with this weekend's Publix Fun Fest.
Mona Amodeo, owner of idgroup, the TDC's marketing and public relations agency, said tourism officials hope to bring more local and regional visitors to the area this year.
"We want to bring in people from Birmingham, Baton Rouge and Atlanta," Amodeo said.
Karen Paulus, public relations manager for idgroup, said the regional targeting is based on reports from the American Automobile Association that predict travelers will look for attractions closer to home because of high gas prices.
"People are looking for things to do, you know, family things," said Navarre Beach real estate and business owner Bob Holderman.
Richard Hicks, owner of The Fun Store, agreed, saying that Navarre Beach is what families are looking for.
"This is a real familyoriented place," he said. "I live here on the island and I love the island because it is away from the mainstream."
The TDC hopes the secluded charm will draw tourists to Navarre Beach.
"Last year was very successful and we expect even more success this year," said Wilkes.
Wilkes said Navarre Beach's bed tax revenues are up 34 percent from last year, and she expects that number to continue to climb.
"After 9/11 and hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, renters were hesitant to book in advance. But renters are more confident now," Wilkes said.
She added that they are already more than a month ahead of last year's bookings rate.
Even with tourist numbers climbing and business owners optimistic, not everything is back to its prehurricane days.
For example, repairs to State Road 399 between Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach are still only half finished. That makes U.S. Highway 98 the only route in and out of Navarre Beach.
TDC board member Ira Mae Bruce said that the unfinished road hurts tourism in Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach.
"When it opens it will be a big boom for Santa Rosa and Escambia County," she said.
Nina Kelson, deputy superintendent for Gulf Islands National Seashore, said plans call for the entire road to be open by the end of the summer.
Other repairs are in the works for Navarre Beach's fishing pier and hotel accommodations.
"We're excited about Navarre Beach, we're excited about summer, we're excited about all the people who will come to spend this summer with us," Bruce said.