Monmouth County Commissioners & tourism partners host summer kickoff press conference
County Commissioners & tourism partners host summer kickoff press conference
Commissioner Director discusses the importance of tourism industry
ASBURY PARK, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners welcomed the 2024 summer tourism season with their tourism partners at a press conference on Tuesday, May 21, at the Stone Pony.
“Summer 2023 was incredibly successful with over 9.5 million visitors coming to Monmouth County. We also saw visitor spending increase from $2.8 billion in 2022 to $2.9 billion in 2023,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Division of Tourism. “In addition, our tourism industry supported nearly 24,000 jobs in 2023 and reported $29 million in beach revenue.”
“Tourism is so important to Asbury Park and to the entire Jersey Shore,” said Asbury Park Mayor John Moor. “The most important thing this summer is beach safety. We have an excellent and well-trained staff who are ready to assist our visitors. We ask everyone to please be aware of all safety regulations.”
“Twenty years ago, there was no one here, but with good government, Asbury Park is now here bigger and better than ever,” said Stone Pony General Manager Caroline O’Toole. “The Stone Pony has always stood with Asbury Park, and we will always stand with Asbury Park. For 50 years, the Stone Pony has been a symbol of what is possible.”
“Asbury Park is a year-round town, but there is nothing like summer on the Jersey Shore,” said Matthew Whelan, executive director of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. “We have many events scheduled this summer and beyond those events, we are seeing new businesses opening all over town. I would like to thank the Commissioners for supporting Asbury Park and I hope to see everyone here this summer.”
At the press conference, the County Commissioners presented Connor Kane with a certificate of recognition for winning the second annual Monmouth County Tourism Travel Guide cover photo contest. Kane, of Asbury Park, won the contest with his incredible aerial photo of surfers on the Asbury Park beach.
“Congratulations to Connor for his fantastic photo that will serve as the cover of the 2024 Travel Guide. The Travel Guide has tons of activities, resources and programs to make any trip to Monmouth County a great one,” said Director Arnone. “Join us for a day trip, stay for an overnight visit, or vacation for the week. There will be events and activities all summer long and our Travel Guide will be your map to a great summer in Monmouth County.”
Director Arnone also discussed ways the Division of Tourism will be involved with local Chambers of Commerce and other local events this summer.
“The success of our tourism industry comes down to our partnerships with our chambers of commerce,” said Director Arnone. “The chambers attract businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and facilitate networking opportunities. This leads to job creation, increased investment, and overall economic prosperity, so thank you for your hard work.”
“Monmouth County Division of Tourism has been sponsoring and supporting Monmouth County Chambers of Commerce and local events through the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) grant the County received for 2024,” added Director Arnone. “We will be at more events than ever this year and we can’t wait to see everyone supporting our local towns and businesses. We are also excited to be the Platinum Sponsor for AsburyFest, taking place from June 7 through June 9 at Bradley Park.”
Director Arnone reminded residents to utilize the Monmouth County Beach Public Safety dashboard. Monmouth County was the first County in the United States to utilize this dashboard. This dashboard provides a free public safety tool to residents and visitors with up-to-the-minute details about aquatic risks, wave height, water temperature, UV index, surf reports and more. This dashboard is 100% free to the public and is accessible from any device at www.MonmouthCountyBeaches.com.
To view the press conference, it can be found on the County’s YouTube and Facebook pages. For more information about Monmouth County happenings, go to MonmouthCountyTourism.com
ASBURY PARK, NJ — The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners welcomed the 2024 summer tourism season at a press conference with their tourism partners on Tuesday, May 21, at the Stone Pony. Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Division of Tourism, shared the 2023 tourism statistics and upcoming events. He also talked about the importance of the tourism industry to the County’s local economy.
ASBURY PARK, NJ – Monmouth County officials and tourism partners gathered for the summer kick off press conference at the Stone Pony. During the press conference, Connor Kane of Asbury Park was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for winning the second Monmouth County Travel Guide cover photo contest. To request a copy of the Monmouth County Travel Guide, go to www.monmouthcountytourism.com.
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