Many choosing less expensive summer trips to cope in poor economy

People planning to downsize their vacations because of the struggling economy may actually be boosting camping and other summer recreational pursuits in Cape Girardeau.

Shorter trips where people don't venture very far from home have become more common, and the popularity of the trend has led to more interest in outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, backpacking and birdwatching, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

"Many Missourians are opting to explore their own state this year in response to high fuel prices and economic uncertainty," said Jim Low, spokesman for the conservation department.

While there are some people who will opt to take a long, extravagant vacation no matter what, the economic downturn has left a large number of would-be vacationers on the fence about whether to splurge on a getaway, said Chuck Martin, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"People are looking for different, cost-efficient opportunities; consumers are looking for perceived value," Martin said.

Gary Suhre studies the manual for the air compressor he bought for his RV at Cape Camping and RV Park in Cape Girardeau. He and his family have been camping after selling their house before buying another one. (Fred Lynch)

Ticket sales at pricier amusement parks have been on the decline, Martin said, leaving more people searching for inexpensive or free activities.

"People are sticking closer to home and looking for things that are at best free and at worst cost-effective," Martin said.

Camping and RV sites, as well as fishing spots, may see an increased popularity with the economy sliding downhill, Martin said.

Cape Camping and RV Park owner Stan Thompson said business has been booming so far this summer.

Two weeks ago, every one of the 90 pull-through sites at the 14-and-a-half-acre park was full, and about 80 of them were rented out last weekend, Thompson said.

"I actually think that it's helped us," Thompson said of condition of the economy.

"People are trying to do things a little cheaper, it's made people stay closer to home and use things within 40 to 50 miles of their house."

Thompson speculated that more people may be passing up longer trips to destination spots like Florida, Texas and Gulf Shores in favor of less touristy places like Cape Girardeau this year.

"Cape Girardeau's about as cool a town as you can find between St. Louis and Memphis," Thompson said.

Trail of Tears state park saw a drop in campers at their site this year, but that was likely because of the closure of a main trail and the swimming beach at the park, assistant park superintendent Jim Griggs said last month.

As for fishing, so far this year, there have been 6,653 fishing permits sold in Cape Girardeau County, compared with 7,942 for all of 2008 and 8,442 two years ago.

Last year was not a typical year for fishing permit sales because of poor fishing weather due to a wet spring and skyrocketing fuel prices, said Candice Davis, spokeswoman for the conservation department's southeast region.

Scott County has already sold more fishing permits this year than for all of 2008, according to Davis.

Overall tourism numbers have dropped a bit in Cape Girardeau this summer, Martin said, possibly because of the loss of riverboat stops.

"It has been slow by comparison to last year," Martin said.

The heat advisories of the past week may have kept some people from venturing out, he said, leading to a decrease in downtown shoppers.

"I don't think we're doing a whole lot worse," he said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3640

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