Published: May 11, 2008 05:27 pm      

UPDATE — Vacationers changing plans because of gas prices

OCEAN CITY, Md. — Mid-Atlantic resorts are hoping gas prices spiraling toward $4 a gallon and a cooling economy won’t keep vacationers at home this summer — but they’re bracing for shorter stays and less spending on restaurants and entertainment while people holiday.

“People are staying less time,” said innkeeper Vicki Barrett, who runs a six-room bed and breakfast in Ocean City. “They’re not staying for five days or seven days — they’re staying for two days or three days.”

Along the beaches of Maryland and Delaware, and at other resorts that rely on summertime traffic, this summer is a big question. Some say business will go down as people cut vacation spending, while others are hoping the weak dollar and high gas prices will keep summer travelers closer to home.

“People are starting to really watch those gas prices,” said Jason Lake of Clarksburg, W.Va., enjoying a one-week honeymoon he wasn’t about to pass up because of economic worries. But concern about gas costs prompted Lake to choose a more fuel-efficient way to travel.

“We did bring the car instead of the truck this year. Usually, we like to travel in the truck more. But other than that, we didn’t change any plans,” Lake said.

His new wife, Melissa Lake, added with a laugh: “We just got a lot of wedding money — that helps.”

Maryland tourism officials say they’re targeting more vacationers from neighboring states such as West Virginia and Pennsylvania this year. The theme of some ads going up this summer: “Pretty. Close.”

“They always come out with these reports that when gas hits X, people will stop traveling. We just don’t see that,” said Margot Amelia, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism.

Amelia predicted that Mid-Atlantic resorts would benefit if anyone changes travel plans, because the region will look more attractive than trekking to Florida or the Carolinas for a beach trip.

“It’s probably those long-haul trips that will go. People will travel two hours from home, and that bodes very well for us,” she said.