What's the main reason people go to Atlantic City versus any other gambling destination? You might be surprised that it’s not the glamourous slots, or the luxurious spas. You might have thought gamblers are the primary visitors to Atlantic City. Perhaps beach lovers? So what is it that draws the crowds to this coastal town when there are casinos practically everywhere these days? Don’t be surprised when you hear the answer – Parking space!
A fresh survey of thousands of visitors to Atlantic City reveals a shocking statistic - gambling ranks seventh on a list of why people choose to come to the resort. This survey was conducted by the Atlantic City Convention and Tourism Authority so there is reason to believe that the statistics are reasonably accurate. Easy parking topped the list, followed by the convenience of getting to Atlantic City, the ease of getting around within the city, dining options, hotel room availability, and the beach and Boardwalk. At AtlanticCity dot com, we are proud to be a part of the hotel availability options for Atlantic City, offering the lowest price guarantee since 1995.
The Authority's president, Jeff Vasser mentioned that the survey runs all year long and gets at least 3000 responses, up to 10000 on some years. According to him , this survey proves that Atlantic City's efforts to transform itself into a destination resort where gambling is only one of the attractions seem to be working. For many, even if they have options closer to home to play a slot machine, they prefer to come to Atlantic City as Slot machines are not the compelling reason anymore. It’s the complete package - shopping, the dining, the entertainment And with easy parking and stress-free hotel reservations and availability, it really comes together at Atlantic City.
Visitors to Atlantic City declined last year to 33 million from 34 million in 2006. That’s only a 3 decline at Las Vegas. The survey also offers evidence of some of the challenges facing Atlantic City. More than a third of those surveyed also say they gamble regularly elsewhere, including Las Vegas (31 per cent), Pennsylvania (20 per cent), Connecticut (15 per cent), Delaware (8 per cent) and New York (8 per cent). More hotels and resorts like Borgata will help establish our status as the entertainment destination.
