Jul 3, 2009 4:01 pm US/Eastern
NH Tourism Takes Beating From Weather, Recession
HAMPTON (WBZ) ―
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Hampton Beach businesses are hoping that this holiday weekend will help give a much needed jumpstart to kick off the summer season.
WBZ
Hampton Beach businesses are hoping that this holiday weekend will help give a much needed jumpstart to kick off the summer season.
Doc Noel, from the Hampton Chamber of Commerce, says this past June was the worst in decades, and many restaurants report sales were down 20 to 40 percent.
The owner of the Sea Ketch restaurants on Ocean Boulevard says the wet weather has been dismal for sales.
Kevin Brown says, "We're getting ready for July and August, and hope the sun comes up and tourists come and we can make everybody happy."
He adds, "All the flowers have been watered, its time for the summer. It's time for the beach."
Richard Blais, vacationing from Montreal with his wife, says, "I hope the sunshine will come out for the next three days were here. It better be nice."
But not everyone is complaining about the cooler temperatures. Noreen Allen, vacationing in Hampton Beach from Atlanta Georgia, says of the rain: "Send some to Georgia. We've had no rain. We're happy it's cooler here. We've had over 90 degrees every day, and that gets old too. We'll bring the weather with us. We'll bring you some nice weather."
Hampton Beach will have fireworks at 9:30 on Saturday night. The rain date is Sunday at 9:30 pm.
New Hampshire tourism officials expect 800,000 visitors to come to New Hampshire this holiday weekend. They predict those visitors will spend $115 million.
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