Visitors flock to Oregon coast for holiday weekend

Visitors flock to Oregon coast for holiday weekend

Cases today.

Coastal communities are a seeing a surge of visitors this labor day weekend despite lingering concerns over a surge in coronavirus cases.

Kezi 9 news reporter jacob roberts shows us how small towns are trying to balance bringing in tourism dollars and a global pandemic.

On saturday, parts of the oregon coast looked exactly like you might expect on a holiday weekend that informally closes out the summer.

Nat -?we just wanted to have some fun and visit a new state?

Nat?portland very hot right now and we just wanted to get away from the hea?

Nat-?just to enjoy.

We haven been able to get for out for a while so this is nic?

Whatever the reason, shops and restaurants near florence were bustling with visitors.

And so were the beaches, filled with families, children and their dogs.

But this isn a holiday weekend like most.

Coronavirus is still spreading and state leaders are leery about another boost in cases, like what happened over mother day, memorial day and the fourth of july.

00:39 jacob roberts says, tourism is a big deal here in florence.

It accounts for 147 million dollars in revenue each year.

The town needs tourists, but it also home to more aging residents who are more vulnerable to covid-1?

Bettina hannigan says,?it a huge economic impact to our communit?

Bettina hannigan knows how important tourists are as the ceo and president of the local chamber of commerce.

Visitors support nearly 2-thousand jobs in a town that counts just over 9- thousand people.

1:03 bettina hannigan/ president and ceo, florence area chamber of commerce says,?we have a large retirement community and that means we have a large community that are at high risk.

And so we all need to just be super carefu?

While town was crowded and socially distancing impossible at points, many said they still feel safe.

1:17 kelly sabate/visiting coast says, it pretty safe.

I mean there a lot of people on the beach but it not overcrowded.

Everyone keeping their distanc?

1:22 alyssa green/ visiting florence?by and large everybody wanting to get out and theyl do what they need to do to stay saf?

Reporting in florence, jr, kezi 9