US Beach Towns Fear Collapse As Summer Of Pandemic Causes Havoc

The executive director of the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce, Lauren Weaver, told USA Today that "our businesses (located on the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula) have 12 weeks to make money to survive the rest of the year... sales for the town's 75 or so beach-district merchants are down 40% to 70% compared with a year ago."

Weaver warned: "A lot of them are not going to survive" this season.

Bethany-Fenwick is an upscale beach community, home to wealthy elites, such as Joe Biden.

The virus pandemic has made it challenging for local businesses to operate, many of whom only make money during the summer months.

Down the street, about 20 minutes south, revenue for businesses in Ocean City, Maryland, is down 20% to 25%, said Susan Jones, head of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association.

Jones said the city's decision to reopen beaches in early May despite the virus pandemic helped businesses survive. She said this year is a not a profitability story, but rather a breakeven story.

Back to Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches, which are a string of beach towns that generate more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue, according to Southern Delaware Tourism. Much of the area is dependent on travel and tourism.

More

from Salisbury News https://ift.tt/2XEz3Xs