Poll: Most residents plan shore trips

Most New Jerseyans are ready to return to the shore this summer, signaling a healthy turn in the state’s tourism economy.

Fifty-eight percent of residents told Monmouth University pollsters they planned to take a trip to the shore sometime this summer. That’s identical to the 58% who told Monmouth pollsters in April 2020 they planned such a trip before the pandemic hit.

Just 27% of residents polled last April said they were likely to go to the beach once the virus arrived.

The result is on the low end of what’s typical. Past polls — ones predating the pandemic —said between 60% and 70% of state residents planned trips to the shore.

Families with children are less likely to say they’d go down to the shore than they were 10 years ago. Just 62% said they would, compared with 78% in 2021.

“Jersey Shore crowds may be the most iconic indicator of whether the state is getting back to normal,” said Monmouth Polling Institute Director Patrick Murray. “There may be some vacancies in short-term rentals this summer with fewer families making an extended trip, which makes sense since Covid vaccines aren’t available for most children. However, most New Jersey adults are itching to get back on the beaches and boardwalks.”