Resort town

A resort town, sometimes called a resort destination, is a town or area where tourism or vacationing is a primary component of the local culture and economy. Most resort towns have one or more actual resorts in or nearby, although some places are considered resort towns merely because of their popularity among tourists.

Typically, the economy of a resort town is geared almost entirely towards catering to tourists, with most residents of the area working in the tourism or resort industry. Shops and luxury boutiques selling locally-themed souvenirs, motels, and unique restaurants often proliferate the downtown areas of a resort town.

Resort town economy

If the resorts or tourist attractions are seasonal in nature (such as a ski resort), resort towns typically experience a "on-season" where the town is bustling with tourists and workers, and an "off-season" where the town is populated only by a small amount of local year-round residents.

In addition, resort towns are often popular with wealthy retirees and people wishing to purchase vacation homes, which typically drives up property values and the cost of living in the region. Sometimes resort towns can become boomtowns due to the quick development of retirement and vacation-based residences [ [http://www.travelnevada.com/story.asp?sid=41 Nevada Commission on Tourism ] ] .

However, most of the employment available in resort towns are typically low paying and it can be difficult for workers to afford to live the area in which they are employed [ [http://www.google.com/search?q=resort+town+workforce+problems&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official] ] . Many resort towns have spawned nearby bedroom communities where the majority of the resort workforce lives.

Resorts towns sometimes struggle with problems regarding sustainable growth [ [http://www.matr.net/article-11836.html MATR News: Resort towns struggle with growth ] ] , due to the seasonal nature of the economy, the dependence on a single industry, and the difficulties in retaining a stable workforce http://econchoices.googlepages.com/.

Examples of resort towns

Asia

*Pagbilao, Quezon
*Matheran, India
*Panglao, Philippines

Middle East

*Dahab, Egypt
*Eilat, Israel

North America

Canada

*Whistler, British Columbia
*Kimberley, British Columbia
*Banff, Alberta
*Jasper, Alberta
*Mont-Tremblant, Quebec

Mexico

*Cancún, Quintana Roo
*Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
*Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
*Rocky Point, Sonora
*Mazatlán, Sinaloa

United States

*Bull Shoals, Arkansas
*Vail, Colorado
*Aspen, Colorado
*Nahant, Massachusetts
*Mackinaw City, Michigan
*Laughlin, Nevada
*Las Vegas Strip/Las Vegas, Nevada
*Ocean City, New Jersey
*Ruidoso, New Mexico
*Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
*Park City, Utah
*Saint George, Utah
*South Lake Tahoe, California
*Jackson, Wyoming
*San Juan, Puerto Rico
*Atlantic City, New Jersey
*Ocean Beach, New York
*Rincon, Puerto Rico
*Montauk, New York
*East Hampton, New York
*Southampton, New York
*Daytona Beach, Florida
*Panama City Beach, Florida

Europe

*Barizo, Spain
*Bečići, Montenegro
*Capri, Italy
*Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
*Druskininkai, Lithuania
*Juodkrantė, Lithuania
*Nice and the French Riviera, France
*Nida, Lithuania
*Palanga, Lithuania
*Porto Cervo, Italy
*Portofino, Italy
*Sorrento, Italy
*Skegness, Lincolnshire,UK
*Taormina, Italy
*Varna, Bulgaria
*Mamaia, Romania
*Neptun, Romania
*Vama Veche, Romania

Oceania

*Queenstown, New Zealand
*Wanaka, New Zealand

References

ee also