And word is it's going to be big. Both the South Walton and Okaloosa County tourist development councils report a large rise in the number of inquiries about the area, and rentals and reservations are up for many of the area's properties. I think everybody is keeping our fingers crossed because we know the only thing that could hurt this is the bad weather.
Times are good.
Neese said Pelican Beach is almost booked for the summer as far as two-bedroom units and has been entirely booked for the Fourth of July weekend for a long time. Neese added that the increased promotion of the area through the TDCs has also brought new business to the area. With the strong tourist season gearing up, many businesses along the coast are looking for seasonal, part-time help. Saucier said Abbott and other properties are trying different methods to bring in seasonal employment, including radio advertisement. One reason many places are looking for more employment is not only because of better business, but bigger business as well.