Last Big Summer Season Weekend in Santa Barbara, Should Travelers Stay or Should They Go?
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The last big weekend of the summer season makes report card time for the travel industry. Hotel bookings, the number of people on airport flights, destination popularity or a change in trends are all getting a look.
In Santa Barbara just after Old Spanish Days, the first week in August, several restaurants and travel locations said they saw a dip in foot traffic for at least a week. They are hoping it rebounds now with the hot weather and Labor Day crowds on the move.
In part, those who have been in the business for years said, they were surprised to see the school year start as soon as it did in mid-August and believe that was a factor.
Financial concerns are also leading people to look at closer trips, staycations, and travel deals.
Uncertainty over employment or their job status in the next six months has also been an ongoing concern with recent layoffs, consolidations, and AI influences on the work place.
Summer travel spending does not have to be lavish on the Central Coast with many opportunities to explore the outdoors from the beaches to the many hiking trails, along with art galleries and numerous free events. Those include live concerts in the park and movies in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens.
Rich Branning is a driver and co-owner of the free Loop shuttle service and rentals in Santa Barbara. On a drive up State Street he said, “when you’re providing a free golf cart shuttle up and down, one of America’s, if not the world ‘s, nicest locations, it’s hard for them to have a bad time. So I think we’ve enjoyed playing a part in that. “
He has seen a trend this year. “There’s definitely a sentiment that has switched pretty abruptly over the last six months to a year in terms of, what they’re looking to spend on, and I think really what their future outlook is. I think purchasing power has decreased for sure.”
He sees some day trippers coming in regularly, mainly from Los Angeles. “I definitely think people have utilized the train a lot more than previously. I’d say we get a lot of people from the LA area, take it up the train for the day, rather than maybe staying the weekend.”
The Loop has had three golf cart style shuttles moving throughout downtown with about 14 seats. Often though not a lot of extra shopping bags have been part of the ride. He worries that some of the economic trends to him are cool right now. Definitely not
Near Stearns wharf visitors were asked where they have been spending their time and money and if there have been new factors affecting their travel.
Olivia Damato said, “for a lot of my friends, at least, people are skipping out on traveling this year because of economic hardship. And I think for us to be able to do, we really needed to prioritize it. I think that everybody’s feeling the economy in this moment. “
Some were in and around Santa Barbara was not just for recreation, but also for family.
Kris Egan sat with her husband and said, “we’ve been up to Boise, Idaho to see the grandkids and we are back to Pennsylvania to see his relatives and we are here to see my son.”
Getting set for UC Santa Barbara next month and walking with her parents, Isabella Christman said, I’m moving down here the fall.” She says that has kept the trips close to home and within the state.
A Long Beach resident said trips within a few hours have worked out the best for now.
Juan Jimenez said, “I’ve been here before. But I wanted to bring her (his wife) and the kids and, we’re actually going to go to, Solvang after.”
For a couple from Texas this was the right spot, at the right time since they are building a home right now.
Reece Struzick said if was affordable and “everything is just so clean of well established. Not very crowded like we thought it was going to be. Just awesome. “
Back on the road with the Loop shuttle we also found out the drivers will be rolling through the end of November on this trial service. They have also become a visitor center on wheels, with information and suggestions for the riders on where to go, what to do, what to eat and where to find some memorable moments.
The Santa Barbara Airport has been reporting strong passenger counts and is expected to exceed $1.4-million for the year.